The Effect of Dietary Plant-Derived Omega 3 Fatty Acids on the Reproductive Performance and Gastrointestinal Health of Female Rabbits
Alda Quattrone | Rafik Belabbas | Nour Elhouda Fehri | Stella Agradi | Silvia Michela Mazzola | Olimpia Barbato | Alessandro Dal Bosco | Simona Mattioli | Sebastiana Failla | El-Sayed M. Abdel-Kafy | Bayrem Jemmali | Imène Ben Salem | Maria Teresa Mandara | Giuseppe Giglia | Michel Colin | Mathieu Guillevic | Gerald Muça | Majlind Sulçe | Marta Castrica | Bengü Bilgiç | Maria Laura Marongiu | Gabriele Brecchia | Giulio Curone | Laura Menchetti
This study examined the effects of extruded linseed and algae <i>Padina pavonica</i> extract on the reproductive performance, milk production, and gastrointestinal health of female rabbits. Thirty-six nulliparous New Zealand White female rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups (<i>n</i> = 12) with different diets. The control group (CNT) received a standard diet, while the other two groups received modified isoenergetic diets in which part of the CNT diet ingredients were replaced with 5% extruded linseed (L5%) and 5% extruded linseed plus 0.2% <i>Padina pavonica</i> algae extract (L5%PP). The rabbits were monitored from artificial insemination until the weaning of the rabbit kits, evaluating different reproductive parameters. Our results indicate that extruded linseed and alga <i>Padina pavonica</i> extract did not affect the feed intake or body weight of female rabbits. Additionally, no clinically significant histological changes were observed at the gastrointestinal level. The reproductive parameters, including litter size, litter weight, and milk yield, showed no significant differences among groups. Notably, perinatal and pre-weaning mortalities were reduced in litters born to females receiving omega-3 integrated diets (<i>p</i> < 0.05). While these findings are promising, further studies are needed to confirm these results and explore the specific mechanisms by which omega-3 affects reproductive function and litter health.
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