Effect of dietary supplementation of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on growth performance, apparent digestibility and health status of companion dwarf rabbits

摘要: Abstract Raising and caring rabbits for purposes of companionship has become more popular within households. This recently created attention in formulating balanced diets that include raw materials with nutritional characteristics capable improving animal health status. The aim this study was to compare, formulated growing dwarf rabbits, the effect dietary inclusion 3% microalga Spirulina ( Arthrospira platensis , S) and/or 2.5% Thyme Thymus vulgaris T) leaves on fatty acid (FA) profile, coefficients total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD), nutritive value such growth performance Four isonitrogenous (161±4 g/kg) iso-energetic (16.8±0.1 MJ/kg) pet were formulated: a control diet (C), (T diet), containing (S both T S supplementations (TS diet). Diets fed 14 weeks 120 (divided 4 groups 30 each) initially aged 7 mean body weight 643±4.7 g. Supplementing resulted numerically richer polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), notably C18:2 n −6 S, TS C18:3 −3 diets, although different proportions obtain equal energy contents may have played role differences profile. GLA (C18:3 −6) level 10-fold higher S-enriched diets. −6/ ratio favourably low all (on average 2.6), lowest observed (2.12 2.53, respectively, there no statistically significant differences). At end females reached P vs 0.85 0.84, C, T, TS, respectively) observed, which probably due slight decrease EE content increase PUFA proportion CTTAD ADF cellulose increased addition compared C (0.22 0.17 0.28 0.22 respectively;