Effect of Thyme Leaves and Ascorbic Acid as Natural Growth Activities on the Performance, Carcass, Digestibility of Growing Rabbits

https://doi.org/10.64489/0fp86308

Authors

  • FAWZI MUSBAH EISA Department of Agricultural Sciences. Higher Institute of Science and Technology Soq Alkames Msehel - Libya (2018), Libya
No. 2 (2018): Alrefak Journal for Knowledge
Humanities
13 July 2025
5 December 2018

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Abstract

Thirty-six growing V-line rabbits male, 5 weeks old, with initial weights of 776.67±9.71 gm were used for the study. The rabbits were randomly allocated to four treatments groups of 9 rabbits each. Group one fed basal diet free of feed additives and served as a control group. Groups 2 and 3 supplemented with 200 and 400 mg Thyme leaves / kg diet, re-spectively. Group 4 received control diet, but drinking water supplemented with 200 mg ascorbic acid /L.Results showed that at 13 weeks of age the supplementation of 200 mg ascorbic acid, 200 and 400 mg Thyme leaves /kg diet brought a significant (P <= 0.05) improvements in final body weight by the value of 5.1, 7.7 and 9.3%, weight gain by 8.6, 12.3 and 14.7%, feed conversion ratio by 10.9, 15.1 and 17.9%, performance index by 16.6, 25.0 and 31.3% and significantly (P <= 0.01) decreased feed intake by 1.3, 2.7 and 4.3 %, respectively. Most of the carcass traits were insignificantly affected by different treat-ments, however, kidney fat and lungs percentage were significantly (P <= 0.05) decreased and increased, respectively, in the group received 400 mg Thyme leaves in comparison with control. Digestibility coefficients of DM was significantly (P <= 0.05) decreased in the groups received Thyme leaves, however, digestibility coefficients of OM was significantly (P <= 0.05) decreased in the group had 400 mg Thyme leaves in compared with control and ascorbic acid fed groups. Diets containing Thyme leaves caused significant (P <= 0.05) increment in DCP % value compared with control and ascorbic acid fed groups. In conclu-sion the results showed that addition of Thyme leaves or ascorbic acid in rabbit diets had improved the productive performance, carcass, digestibility of growing rabbits and 400 mg/kg Thyme leaves was more effective tan 200 mg/kg Thyme leaves or ascorbic acid.

Key words: Rabbits, Thyme leaves, ascorbic acid, performance.

How to Cite

“Effect of Thyme Leaves and Ascorbic Acid As Natural Growth Activities on the Performance, Carcass, Digestibility of Growing Rabbits”. 2018. Alrefak Journal for Knowledge, no. 2 (December): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.64489/0fp86308.