EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CINNAMON AND CURCUMIN ON PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS, HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES, AND BLOOD SERUMMETABOLITES IN GROWING RABBITS

Zeweil, H. S.; Zahran, S. M.; Ahmed, M. H.; El-Gindy, Y. M.; Khoshera, N. S.M.

doi:10.21608/ejnf.2016.74993

EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CINNAMON AND CURCUMIN ON PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS, HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES, AND BLOOD SERUMMETABOLITES IN GROWING RABBITS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University.

10.21608/ejnf.2016.74993

Abstract

A total of seventy-two V-line rabbits of both sexes, 5 weeks old, with initial weights of 639.4 ±.25.97 g were used for the study. Rabbits were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups, each of which included 4 replicates of 3 rabbits. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks to be finished at 11 weeks of age and dietary treatments were as follows: 1) Control (basal diet); 2) basal diet+ 100 mg/kg antibiotictylosin; 3) basal diet+ 0.5 g /kg turmeric (as a source of curcumin); 4) basal diet+ 1.0 g/kg turmeric; 5) basal diet+ 0.5 g/kg cinnamon; 6) basal diet+ 1.0 g /kg cinnamon. The results showed that there were significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments and the control group. The highest body weight and weight gain values and the best feed conversion ratio were recorded in the groups given 1.0 g /kg diet turmeric or cinnamon. The highest feed intake values were observed in the control and Tyrosin fed groups, while the lowest feed intake values was recorded in cinnamon fed group. Tylosin, cinnamon and turmeric supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE and also, improved the nutritive values of nutrients as TDN and DCP in comparison with control. General significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in RBCs, Hb and PCV % due to the different feed additives in comparison with control group. Serum lipid profile improved by phytogenic feed additives compared with tylosin and control groups. Phytogenic feed additives reduced Malondialdehyde (P ≤ 0.05), while, increased total antioxidant capacity concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities. Immunostimulatory effects of phytogenic feed additives were recorded. In conclusion, we state that cinnamon and turmeric could have beneficial effects on performance, digestibility, immunomodulatory and play an important role as an exogenous antioxidant.

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