Alleviation the negative effects of summer heat stress by adding selenium with vitamin E or AD3E vitamins mixture in drinking water of female rabbits

Abstract

Forty five females New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were used in this research. Before mating, the animals were divided into three equal groups. The 1st group was kept without any treatment and served as control group. The 2nd and 3rd groups were supplemented daily 1m/l in drinking water with Se with vitamin E and AD3E vitamins mixture, respectively. The experiment was lasted two months of hot summer season beginning before mating directly and continues during ending at the weaning of kids. Adding Se with vitamin E or AD3E vitamins mixture in drinking water decreased significantly physiological thermoregulatory parameters and improved live body weight and feed intake and decreased significantly daily water intake in comparative with control group. Blood protein and albumin concentrations increased significantly while urea-N and creatinine concentrations decreased significantly by adding two treatments. Cortisol level was lower while T3 and T4 hormonal levels were higher in both two treatment groups compared with control. Reproductive and productive traits improved significantly in heat stressed female rabbits by adding both of Se with vitamin E and AD3E vitamins mixture in drinking water. Two techniques can alleviate the negative effects of heat stress on Female rabbits under hot summer season in Egypt.