Physiological response, testicular function, and health indices of rabbit males fed diets containing phytochemicals extract under heat stress conditions
Khaled H. El‐Kholy, Wael Mohamed Wafa, H. El-Nagar, A Abo-Elmagd, Ibrahim T. El‐Ratel
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary turmeric or garlic extract on physiological responses, hematological parameters, antioxidants status, testicular functions, and health indices of heat-stressed rabbit males. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy bucks were distributed into seven experimental groups (ten/group). A commercial diet (CD) was fed to rabbit males in the control group, while males in G2, G3, and G4 were fed CD with turmeric at 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, respectively. Males in G5, G6, and G7 were fed CD with garlic extract at 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg, respectively, for 8 weeks. RESULTS: < 0.05). The increased packed cell volume percentage and initial semen fructose were significant only when 100 mg per kg garlic extract was supplemented. CONCLUSION: Phytochemicals extract supplementation can be an effective dietary supplementation to eliminate heat stress and improve health, oxidative capacity, and testicular functions of rabbit males.