Impact of bee venom supplement on productive performance, health status and economics of weaned male rabbits: Considering breed and dosage factors

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 2024-05, Vol.108 (3), p.792-805
• Main Authors: Abd El‐Aziz, Ayman H., El‐Kasrawy, Nagwa I., Abd El‐Hack, Mohamed E., Swelum, Ayman A., Suliman, Gamaleldin, Tufarelli, Vincenzo, Abo Ghanima, Mahmoud M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; antioxidant; Antioxidants; Bacteria; bee venom; Bee Venoms - administration & dosage; Bee Venoms - chemistry; Bee Venoms - pharmacology; Body weight; Body weight gain; carcass; Carcasses; Colon; Conversion ratio; Design factors; Diet; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements; Dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking water; E coli; Economics; Factorial design; Feed conversion; growth; intestinal microbiota; Jejunum; Lactobacilli; Male; Males; Metabolites; Parameters; Rabbits; Venom; Weaning
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13931

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the potential effects of purified bee venom (BV) on various aspects of growth, carcass, antioxidant, intestinal bacterial count and economic considerations in rabbits. A total of 240 male rabbits, comprising two distinct breeds (V‐Line and New Zealand White [NZW]), 5 weeks old, with an average live body weight (BW) of 680 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into six groups, each containing 30 rabbits. Each group had five replicates, with six rabbits in each replicate. The allocation of animals to the groups followed a fully factorial design, incorporating two factors: breed (V‐Line and NZW) and four levels of purified BV derived from Apis Mellifera. The control group (G1) received a basal diet without additives. The other three groups (G2, G3 and G4) received the basal diet with BV supplementation in their drinking water at 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L respectively. The study results indicated that NZW rabbits significantly enhanced feed conversion ratio while maintaining consistent carcass attributes compared to the V‐Line breed. Despite variations in growth parameters being less pronounced, the supplementation of BV at levels of 1–2 mg/L demonstrated significant improvements in various other parameters. Notably, the interaction between the BV supplement and the breed factor (p