Abstract :

T

his study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding vitex (Vitex agnus- castus) extracts on productive and reproductive performance of doe rabbits. Fifty New Zealand white does, 7 months old were divided into 5 treatment groups (10 does per group). The first group was fed diet without vitex leaves extract. The second and third were fed diets supplemented with two doses of the aquatic extract (5or 7.5g / kg of diet, respectively). Fourth and fifth groups fed diets supplemented with two doses of the alcoholic extract (5or7.5g / kg of diet, respectively). The studied traits were conception rate, litter size, litter weight at both birth and weaning, pre-weaning mortality and milk yield for three parities. The inclusion of vitex extract affected conception rate, litter size at birth (P<0.05) and weaning (P<0.05), as well as milk yield (P<0.05). However, it tended to increase the kit milk intake in most lactation periods (P<0.05) leading to increase in individual kit weight at weaning (P<0.05), and by using a vitex extract the blood cholesterol levels were reduced. The present results indicate an increase of  net revenue for rabbits fed on diets contained extract of vitex leaves at all levels compared to those in control diet.  In conclusion, supplementation of vitex leaves extract in the rabbit diet of does can improve their productive and reproductive performance.

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