Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, Thyme Oil, and Their Combination to Improve the Reproductive Efficiency of Rabbits during the Summer Season | ||||
| Damietta Journal of Agricultural Sciences | ||||
| Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2024, Page 157-168 PDF (1.15 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original research papers | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/djas.2024.407369 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Mosta Elmoghazy  1; R. Elbiaa2
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| 1Animal, Poultry and Fish Production department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Egypt | ||||
| 2Animal, Poultry, & Fish Production department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The present research aims to evaluate the influence of Zn nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and/or thyme oil on the reproductive performance of rabbits during the summer season in Egypt. Eighty female New Zealand White rabbits (20 per diet) at approximately 6 months of age with an average live weight of 3500 g were used and divided into 4 groups as follows: in the first group, the animals were given the basic diet without supplements (control group). The animals in the second and third groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with ZnO-NPs at 100 mg/kg or thyme oil at 300 mg/kg diet, respectively. The animals in the fourth group were fed a basal meal that was supplemented with both ZnO-NPs at 100 mg/kg and thyme oil at 300 mg/kg. Rabbits fed ZnO-NPs, thyme, or both during heat stress showed no significant effects on TP, ALB, and GLB variables. In the treated groups, there was a significant (P<0.05) drop in the levels of plasma triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC). The ovulation rate, number of embryos, embryo recovery rate, and pregnancy rate of rabbit females exposed to heat stress were significantly increased when thyme and ZnO-NPs were incorporated into their diets. On the other hand, the number of hemorrhagic embryos and total abnormal follicles decreased compared with the control group. Hence, it is possible to conclude that adding ZnO-NPs and thyme oil to rabbits' diets considerably enhanced their physiological and reproductive performance when the rabbits were exposed to heat stress in the summer. Therefore, given the heatstressed climatic circumstances in Egypt, it could be advised to feed rabbits with ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg) and thyme oil (300 mg/kg diet). | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Zinc oxide Nanoparticles; Thyme oil; Rabbit; Antioxidant; Reproduction | ||||
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