Changes in the blood parameters of rabbits consuming a complex of citrates of zinc, selenium, and germanium under the conditions of heat stress
Abstract
The negative effect of heat stress on rabbit productivity can be alleviated through technological solutions that enhance maintenance practices and improve nutrition, which are more effective and profitable. As of now, there is a growing interest in citrates of microelements that can extenuate the heat stress in rabbit farming, but the efficacy varies depending on the compound applied and its amount in the diet. Therefore, this study was aimed at the effects of a complex citrate compound of microelements on the morphological and biochemical parameters of blood of rabbits subject to heat stress, which received the drug with water. The study was conducted in a vivarium, on young analogue-paired Termonde rabbits, aged 35 to 78 days. During the experimental period, we raised the air temperature in the room from 28.9 to 30.0 ºС from 12 to 16 (four hours a day). During the study, we controlled the temperature according to the temperature-humidity index. Rabbits of Group 1: Control were given the main diet consisting of a standard balanced granular mixed feed and had free access to water. Rabbits of Group 2 and Group 3 consumed the same granular mixed feed as in the control, but throughout the day received a complex compound of citrates of microelements. Besides the main diet, throughout the day, Group 2 received 20 mg/L of zinc citrate, 100 µg/L of selenium citrate, and 20 µg of germanium citrate, and Group 3, consumed drinking water with zinc citrate in the dose of 40 mg Zn/L, selenium nitrate in the dose of 200 µg Se/L, and germanium citrate in the dose of 40 µg Ge/L. Blood for the assay was collected on day 14 of the preparation period (Collection 1) and on days 28 and 43 (collections 2 and 3, respectively) of the experiment, when the animals were subject to heat stress. It was found that the rabbits of groups 2 and 3 had higher numbers of erythrocytes on day 28 and day 43, respectively. The hemoglobin concentration in the blood of the rabbits correlated with the numbers of erythrocytes in animals of groups 2 and 3, and was higher on day 28, and increased further on day 43. In the blood of rabbits of experimental groups 2 and 3, we found higher contents of hematocrit and significant increase in the numbers of monocytes on days 28 and 43 of the experiment. Erythrocyte and platelet indices and the analyzed biochemical blood parameters correlated with the content of those cells in blood of the rabbits according to period of the study. The statistical calculations revealed a relationship between the effects of the microelements used and the duration of their intake, as well as their impact on alleviating heat stress in rabbits. The conducted studies indicate the practical benefits of using a complex of citrates of zinc, selenium, and germanium in industrial rabbit farming.References
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