The Influence of Dietary Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Zootechnical Performance and Biometric Indices of Growing New Zealand White Rabbits

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the effects of dietary conventional inorganic Zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano-zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) on the zootechnical performance, selected blood serum indices, antioxidant status, general health and production of rabbit meat enriched with zinc enriched with nano-zinc in growing New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). A total of 481 newly-born rabbits produced from two natural successive mating between 36 primiparous (NZW) Rabbit does and 12 bucks by the intensive breeding system were utilized throughout this study. Rabbits does and bucks were randomly distributed into four equal groups, the control positive group G1 was fed the basal diet supplemented with premix contain 50 ppm inorganic zinc in the form of ZnO; while the control negative G2 was fed on a basal diet supplemented with Zinc Free premix, meanwhile, G3 was fed on the basal diet supplemented with premix contain 25 ppm nano zinc as zinc oxide nanoparticles, however, G4 was fed on the basal diet supplemented with 50 ppm nano zinc as zinc oxide nanoparticles in the premix, Litters after weaning continued on the same diet like their dams till the age of selling at 62 days old. The results showed that the growing rabbits in (G4) supplemented with 50 mg ZnO-NPs/kg diet surpassing significance (P≤ 0.05) in all groups and achieved the best result regarding (birth weight(g), weaning weight(g), sealing weight (g) moreover lower Pre-weaning mortality %, and Post-weaning mortality%). Also, G4 showed significant improvement in FCR in comparison with other groups. Furthermore, showed highest significant increase in total protein and globulin, HDL, SOD, GSH, Catalase activity, and zinc concentration in serum, liver, and thigh tissue and also showed the highest significant decrease in AG ratio, creatinine, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, risk factor, MDA and NO level in G4 at 62 day age old, compared to other groups, while there was no significant difference in albumin level between all the experimental groups. In conclusion, supplementation of 50 mg ZnO-Npskg diet in the premix to the diet of growing NZW rabbit maximize the productive performance and improve FCR without any adverse effect.