PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES AS AFFECTED BY SOME PHYTO- ADDITIVES AND PROBIOTICS IN RABBIT’S DIETS

Abstract

The experimental work of this study was carried out at "Rabbits Research and Development Unit" at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt during the period from February until March 2018. The chemical analyses and microbiological studies were conducted at the laboratories of Regional Center for Food and Feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using Lactobacillus acidophilus, Thyme oil and their mixture on growth performance, blood parameters and caecum characteristics in growing V-Line with average body weight of 750 ± 32 g. All rabbits were treated as follows: The control group was without any additives in drinking water (G1). The second group treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus 108 cfu/liter of drinking water (G2). The third group treated with 1 ml of thyme oil /liter of drinking water (G3). The fourth group treated with a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (108 cfu/ml) and thyme (1 ml) per liter of drinking water (G4). All experimental diets were identical in protein and energy content and covered all requirements of growing rabbits for basic nutrition compounds according to the recommendations of De Blas in 1998.