A total number of thirty five, 9-10 month old New-Zealand white multiparous does, with an average
weight of 3.54kg ± 0.096 were used to evaluate the response to dietary supplementation with Aspergillus awamori (AA)
on some performance aspects during pregnancy and lactation periods. Does were allocated to 5 experimental groups,
7 does of each. Feeding on tested diets started one month before first mating. Does were allowed to the following
treatments; a normal control group fed a basal diet without AA (T1), a positive control group fed T1 diet plus 0.1%
Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis (T2; Pro.), then the 3rd, 4th and 5th were fed the basal diet supplemented with
0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15% AA, respectively and abbreviated as 0.05% AA (T3), 0.10% AA (T4) and 0.15% AA, respectively.
The trail was ended after pregnant period and nursering kits till weaning. The results indicate that doe rabbits
fed diets supplied with 0.15% AA recorded significantly higher bunnies’ size and total weight at weaning compared to
control. Both groups fed either 0.10% or 0.15% AA recorded significantly higher total milk yield (7.71%) during the
whole lactation period (5 weeks) comparing to un-supplemented group. All tested groups recorded a gradual decrease
in Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in blood plasma by increasing AA levels in diets. None of the groups record any
significant differences in immunoglobulin (IgM and IgA). It could be concluded that adding Aspergillus awamori to
does diets up to 0.15% enhanced their performance during lactation period, in term of increased their milk production
and litter weight at weaning. |
