A completely randomized design was conducted to investigate the effect of addition of moringa (Moringa oleifera) or rocket (Eruca Sative) seeds oils or mixture of these oils in the diet of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits on their productive and reproductive performance traits under climate summer conditions of Egypt, started in June to August, 2013. Digestibility coefficients and nutritive values, milk yield, some blood serum constitutes and economic efficiency, semen characteristics of buck and their offspring performance were estimated.A total number of 48 NZW rabbit does (6 months old) and 12 bucks (6 month old) with nearly similar weights were divided at random into four groups (12 does and 3 bucks in each). Rabbits were fed either basal diet (Control) or basal diet supplemented with 1.5 g in each of moringa oil /kg diet, or rocket oil or combination of both oils. The experiment lasted during the hot summer conditions of Egypt.
Results showed that percentages of mono-unsaturated fatty acids were higher in moringa oil than in rocket oil. The percentage of saturated fatty acids was higher in rocket oil than moringa oil, while moringa oil had a minute content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUSFA), whereas rocket oil had a high content of PUSFA as linoleic acid. Does fed combination of moringa oil plus rocket oil diet recorded the highest (P ˂0.05) values of feed intake, final body ,weight, gain, conception rate, number of parturition, litter size, litter weight, litter weight gain at birth and at weaning. Digestibility coefficients of CP and EE, nutritive value expressed as DCP, average daily milk yield during different lactation weeks and feed conversion ratio to milk production were the highest (P ≤ 0.05) with rabbits fed combination of moringa plus rocket oils diet in most weeks of lactation. Bunny's weight at weaning, weight gains were the highest (P ˂0.05) for does fed rocket oil diet. Mortality rate (%) at birth and during lactation period, blood serum cholesterol, triglycerid and LDL recorded the lowest (P ˂ 0.05) values with does received combination of moringa and rocket oils diet. Sperm cell concentration, and percentages of sperm motility and dead spermatozoa improved significantly (P ˂ 0.05) by feeding buck rabbits rocket oil diet or moringa plus rocket oils diet, being the best for those fed rocket oil diet when compared the control group. Rabbits fed moringa plus rocket oils diet recorded the highest net return and best economic efficiency followed by those fed moringa oil diet.
Conclusively,results of the experiment concluded that addition of 1.5 g/Kg diet mixture of moringa and rocket oils were more effective than other treatments for improving productive and reproductive performance traits, digestibility coefficients and nutritive values, milk yield of NZW doe and buck rabbits under hot climatic condition of summer season in Egypt.