The effects of lactic acid bacteria and yeast as probiotics on the performance, blood parameters, nutrient digestibility, and carcase quality of rabbits: a meta-analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics on the performance, blood parameters, nutrient digestibility and carcase quality of domesticated rabbits. A dataset was constructed based on relevant published papers. An algorithm was constructed from 2004 to 2022, with a search in Scopus, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Medline using the MESH terms ‘probiotics’, ‘rabbit’, ‘performance’, ‘blood parameters’, ‘nutrient digestibility’, and ‘carcasses’. After carefully evaluation, the final dataset consisted 35 in-vivo studies comprising 964 treatment units. The data analysis and coding were performed using software R version 4.2.1 ‘Funny-looking kid’ computing with library mode (cowplot); (tidyverse); and (viridis); and (nlme). The results showed the level of probiotics increased body-weight gain with a linear pattern (p < 0.001). With regard to blood parameters, probiotics decreased triglycerides (p < 0.001) and concomitantly decreased albumin (p < 0.01) in domesticated rabbits. In conclusion, probiotics positively affect parameters for production performance and blood metabolites in domesticated rabbits.HighlightsProbiotics helps to increased body-weight gain, suppressed triglycerides and albuminElevated to carcase yield after exposure to probioticsProbiotic showed protective effects and enhanced immune systems in domesticated rabbit