article · Annals of Animal Science
This study evaluated the effects of adding eucalyptus leaf powder to the diets of growing Jabali and V-Line rabbits kept under high ambient temperatures. Across a six-week trial, rabbits received feed containing no additive, 0.1 percent, or 0.2 percent eucalyptus leaves. Supplementation at both levels produced significant linear reductions in caecal total bacterial counts, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella detection. However, the higher dose of 0.2 percent eucalyptus leaf powder reduced growth performance, dressing percentage, mid part percentage, and caecum length, whilst significantly boosting cell-mediated immune responses. Breed differences were also evident, with Jabali rabbits displaying greater body weight, superior feed conversion ratios, improved carcass traits, and lower microbial counts compared to the V-Line breed.
High temperatures present substantial challenges to rabbit health and farming productivity. Identifying dietary additives that suppress harmful gut bacteria and stimulate immunity helps maintain animal health under heat stress. These findings illustrate both the benefits and the performance trade-offs of using natural plant additives in livestock nutrition, showing that dosage must be carefully managed to avoid impairing animal growth.
The findings could inform animal feed manufacturers and commercial rabbit producers seeking natural feed additives to manage gut pathogens and enhance immunity under heat stress. Because this is applied research tested in a small trial of 84 animals, further dose optimisation and larger commercial-scale trials would be necessary before bringing a formulated eucalyptus-based feed additive to market.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract This research aimed to study the effect of dietary eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis ) leaves powder (EL) on growth performance, blood parameters, immune response and caecal microbiota in 84 growing Jabali and V-Line rabbits raised under high environmental temperature. The experiment started at 10 weeks of age and lasted 6 weeks. Rabbits were randomly distributed into three dietary eucalyptus treatments; control (no EL) and two groups supplemented with 0.1% and 0.2% EL powder. Rabbits were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were determined. Cell-mediated immune response was evaluated. At the end of the experiment, 54 rabbits were slaughtered (nine rabbits/sub-group). The results showed that the high level of EL (0.2%) had a negative effect on growth performance, dressing %, mid part % and significantly increased cell-mediated response. Rabbits fed the high level of EL showed shortening in caecum length. Significant linear reduction of total bacterial count and E. coli was observed in both groups given either 0.1% or 0.2% EL compared to the control group. Similar trend was found in the percentage of Salmonella sp. detection in both breeds. Jabali rabbits were significantly heavier than V-line rabbits and had better FCR and carcass traits except for fore part %. Additionally, they showed lower total microbial count. The current study indicated that EL could be utilized as an effective feed additive to improve cellular immunity and to reduce caecal bacterial counts in rabbits raised under high ambient temperature.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2019-0023
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
