ANTIOXIDANT STATUS AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF PREGNANT RABBIT DOES AS AFFECTED BY ALOE VERA LEAVES POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

: The current study has been conducted in Rabbit Research Unite in Sakha Station, located in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. Using 24 of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit does aged between 8-10 months and their average initial body weight was 3377 ± 36.7g. Divided into four groups, G1 was served as control group and fed on commercial pellets with no any additions. The other three groups, G2, G3 and G4 fed on diets supplemented with Aloe Vera (AV) powder at levels 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg diet, respectively. The results showed that , rabbits subjected to severe heat stress during months of July, August and September (THI= 30.5, 31.8 and 29.9, respectively). While, the corresponding value of THI during October and November month value was 27.7 and 24.7, respectively, indicated moderate and no heat stress. The antioxidant status was in overall, higher in TAC levels with lower levels of MDA in supplemented