Impact of Dietary Supplementation with Ginseng or/and Garlic on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Carcass Traits of Growing Male V-Line Rabbits

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding ginseng or/and garlic powder in the diet on growth performance, biochemical parameters and carcass traits of growing male rabbits. Weaned V-line male rabbits (n=48) were divided into four groups. They were assigned at random to receive a basal diet without supplementation (control group), supplemented with 50mg Ginseng or/and 5gm Garlic/kg diet. Growth performance parameters were recorded at age intervals from 5-14wk. Serum biochemical and carcass traits were determined at 14wk of age. Results show that dietary fortification with ginseng or/and garlic caused a significant increase (P≤0.05) in live body weight and body weight gain of male rabbits at 14wk old. Rabbits fed the diets supplemented with garlic alone or combined with ginseng displayed significantly better (P≤0.05) means of feed conversion ratio. Rabbits fed the ginseng or garlic plus ginseng-supplemented diets displayed significantly higher (P≤0.05) serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels. On the other hand, rabbits fed garlic or garlic plus ginseng supplemented diets showed significantly lower (P≤0.05) levels of serum low-density lipoprotein. Dietary supplementation with ginseng and garlic singly or in combination did not significantly affect dressing-out percentage, and weights of carcass yield, hind parts and edible organs of rabbits. However, rabbit fed the garlic-fortified diet displayed significantly heavier (P≤0.05) testes than did the control group and other experimental groups. The current study indicated that addition of ginseng or/and garlic powder in the diet increased growth performance without any adverse effect on immunity and carcass traits of growing V-line male rabbits.