PRODUCTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CHAMOMILE AND ROSEMARY AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON NEW ZEALAND WHITE GROWING RABBITS.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some herbal extracts on growth performance and blood parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits under Upper Egypt conditions of the summer season. Seventy two weaned rabbits At 5 week's age (743.17±12.4 g body weight) were randomly divided into 6 groups. Control group, rabbits received water without additives. In C1 and C2 groups, rabbits received chamomile aqueous extract at 5 and 10 ml/L of drinking water, respectively. In R1 and R2 groups, rabbits received rosemary aqueous extract at 5 and 10 ml/L of drinking water, respectively. The last group (CR) rabbits received a mixture from chamomile and rosemary aqueous extract 5 /L water. During the experimental period the body weight, average daily gain, feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FC) and some blood parameters were estimated. Also, the mortality rate was calculated. The result revealed that the supplement a combination of chamomile and rosemary (CR) increased (P< 0.05) average body weight gain and daily gain as compared C1, R1 and R2 groups. The feed intakes did not affected between the treated groups and control one. However, the feed conversion ratio was significant improved (P<0.01) of rabbits drinking water contains a mixture of chamomile and rosemary extracts (CR) when compared with rosemary groups (R1and R2). The Serum total protein (TP), albumin, glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower (P<0.05) in all treated groups than control group. Supplementing chamomile at levels 5ml and 10ml/L to drink water of rabbits decreased the concentration of serum urea and creatinine when compared with control group. Supplement rosemary extract at 10 ml/L to drinking water of growing rabbits increased (P˂0.05) the number of WBCs as compared with control group (7.07 vs. 3.65 x10 3 , respectively).