The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with dried parsley leaves meal, ginseng or their combination (feed additives) on growth performance, digestibility, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, immune response of growing rabbits under two different systems (Flat or semi pyramidal) of caged design condition, as well as, semen characteristics of buck and caecum microbial activity. Seventy two New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits weaned at 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into four experimental treatment groups (n=18), each with 3 replicated of six rabbits. Rabbits the 1st group were fed the basal diet (17%CP and 2500 kcal DE/kg diet) for 90- day feeding period, while those of the 2nd , 3rd and 4th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.5% dried parsley leaves(Dpl), or 250 mg/kg diet ginseng (G) and their combination , respectively, under two different caged system conditions (flat or pyramidal).
Results revealed that, final live body weight (LBW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) with flat than semi pyramidal caged system. Only concentration of total lipid (TL) in blood serum was lower (P<0.05) in flat than in semi pyramidal caged system. However, concentration of total protein (TP), albumin (AL), globulin (GL), cholesterol (CH) and glucose, Ca and P, as well as, immune response were not affected significantly by caged design. Slaughter weight were higher (P<0.05), while dressing (DP) percentage and EE content in meat were lower (P<0.05) in flat than with semi pyramidal caged systems.
Rabbits fed ginseng with or without parsley supplemented diets showed significantly (P<0.05) the best values of final LBW, ADG, and FCR, the highest digestibility coefficients of CP, EE and NFE, as well as, the highest feeding values in term of TDN, DCP and DE, compared with Parsley supplemented diet and control one Otherwise, those fed parsley supplemented diet showed the highest (P<0.05) digestibility coefficients of DM and CF. Parsley supplementation diet had significantly higher concentration of TP and AL than those of other treatments, while GL and P did not affected by supplemental treatments. The values of TL, CH and glucose were significant lower with all tested supplements than control. Inversely Ca concentration was significant higher with tested diets compared with control. All dietary supplements increased (P<0.05) immune response, being the highest for ginseng plus parsley diets.
Ginseng and their combination with Parsley showed significant higher weights at slaughter and hot carcass than those of control or the other supplemental diet. Dressing percentage and weights of kidney, heart and head did not affected by experimental treatments. Liver weight was significant lower for ginseng diet than that of the other treatments. Dietary supplementations had no significant effect on rabbits meat analysis. Most physical semen characteristics, including sperm cell concentration, percentage of mobility and dead spermatozoa were significantly improved due to all supplemental diets compared to control one. The semen ejaculate volume and sperm abnormality concentrations were not affected by treatments. All dietary supplements increased (P<0.05) total count of bacteria and lactobacilli, while pathogenic bacteria (E-coli and Clostridium spp.) had an inverse trends. From the economical point of view, rabbits fed Ginseng supplemented diet and housed flat caged system showed the highest (P<0.05) economic efficiency. Interaction results indicated no significant for previous traits, except for immune response and content of Ca, which were significantly (P<0.05) affected.
In conclusion, results of this study indicated that growing rabbits fed ginseng alone or with Parsley supplemented diets and housed in flat caged system recorded the best growth performance and economical efficiency.