Effect of anise and fenugreek supplementation on performance of rabbit does.

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of diet supplementation with aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) and fenugreek seeds (Trigonellae foenum-graecum) on the performance of does and kits. Thirthy eight NZW does were randomly divided into two groups (n=19) considering live weight, parity, number of born alive and litter weight after equalisation to 8 kits at first day of lactation. Three days before expected time of parturition until 17 days of lactation, control group was fed ad libitum a commercial diet (C), while the treated group (AF) received the same feed supplemented with aniseed (6 g/kg) and fenugreek seeds (6 g/kg). After 17 th day of lactation, groups were fed the C diet and nursed freely till weaning at 35 days of age. Milk yield was daily measured until day 17 with separation of kits and weighing the doe immediately before and after controlled suckling. Between 1 and 17 days of lactation, the supplementation tended (P=0.058) to reduce the doe’s feed intake (325 vs 348 g/day). Mortality of AF kits tended to be higher (3.9 vs. 0.6% P=0.056) causing a relatively smaller 17d litter size (7.68 vs 7.95 P=0.075) and lower 117 days milk yield (3468 vs 3561 g). The daily milk intake of AF kits (26.7 g) was equivalent to that of C rabbits (26.4 g). Also, the 17 days body weight did not differ significantly between AF and C kits (334 and 341 g). However, milk conversion of AF kits was lower (P=0.011) compared to C rabbits (1.73 vs 1.64 g/g). At 35 days of lactation, the differences between AF and C groups were not significant in litter size (7.65 and 7.89), litter weight (6837 and 7168 g), kit weight (900 and 909 g) and 1-35d weight gain (23.8 and 24.1 g/day). In conclusion, further studies are needed to investigate the palatability and optimal level of these spices in the feed of lactating rabbits.