Influence of organic additive on rabbit blood parameters under heat stress
Abstract
The use of traditional feed additives in the diet of rabbits during heat stress is ineffective, which necessitates the search for alternative dietary components. The study was conducted on young rabbits of the Thermon White breed from 35 to 65 days of age. The rabbits were kept in a separate room of an industrial rabbit farm in the village of Zahirya, Ivano-Frankivsk region, where conditions were created for elevated ambient temperature in the range of 28.9 to 30 °C and relative humidity from 80 to 87.5 %. To conduct the study, a control group of rabbits was formed, which were kept on standard balanced pelleted feed produced on the farm and water to their heart's content. The experimental groups of animals were given a phytogenic supplement (medicinal herb) in addition to the pelleted feed: Group I - common calendula (3 g/0.6 kg of feed); Group II - creeping thyme (9 g/0.6 kg of feed); Group III - lavender (9 g/0.6 kg of feed). Blood for the study was taken on day 45 of life in the preparatory period and on days 50 and 65 in the experimental period. It was found that the most pronounced effect on the change in haematological parameters of rabbits' blood was observed when calendula officinalis was added to the diet. Creeping thyme, in contrast to calendula, did not affect some haematological parameters, but had a similar effect on some blood parameters of animals. The effect of lavender was marked by less pronounced changes compared to other applied medicinal herbs in relation to the control, which was reflected in an increased level of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit value, average haemoglobin content in a single red blood cell, average platelet volume and a decrease in the absolute content of leukocytes and lymphocytes on the 50th and 65th day of the experiment.
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