The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of thyme powder or oil extract addition to the broiler diets on productive performance, carcass characteristics and blood constituents. A total number of 180 seven day old of broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into five equal experimental groups with 6 replicates of 6 birds in each for 35 day of age. The first group was served as control group without any supplementation while birds of the 2nd and 3rd groups were fed diets contained 2.5 and 5 g thyme powder/ kg diet, respectively, the 4th and 5th groups were fed diets contained 100 and 200 mg thyme oil/ kg diet, respectively. Final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion at 35 days of age were significantly improved by thyme treatments. Results showed that birds fed 200 mg thyme oil/ kg diet had significantly better productive performance, while feed consumption was reduced compared with control group. However, percentage of dressing and other organs were increased but not significant in thyme supplemented broiler chickens. While, abdominal fat was significantly decreased by thyme groups. Supplementation of dietary thyme from different sources significantly increased hematology parameters and improved white blood cell, lymphocyte, heterophils and lymphocyte per heterophils ratio. Additionally, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein were significantly decreased with thyme groups compared to control group. While, supplementation of dietary thyme from different sources significantly increased the concentration of high density lipoprotein compared with the control group. In conclusion, thyme oil extract supplementation with 200 mg/ kg diet was improved the productive performance and physiological parameters of broiler chickens.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on blood hematology, lipid profile and immunity status of growing rabbits. Methods: A total of 120, unsexed Alexandria line weaned rabbits, at 4 weeks of age were randomly divided into four groups (30 rabbits each). The first group was fed the control diet and the other groups (2-4) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 10, 20 or 30% MOL for 5 weeks of experimental period. Results: Data revealed that dietary supplementation with 20% MOL recorded the highest live body weight and increased hemoglobin and packed cell volume significantly at 9 weeks of age compared to other groups. Increasing Moringa levels resulted in a significant increase in white blood cells, lymphocytes, globulin and high density lipoprotein, total antioxidant capacity, Immunoglobulin G and M levels compared to control, but, total lipids, cholesterol, malondialdehyde and liver glycogen values decreased significantly. With 20% MOL thymus histology showed an outer cortex of small lymphocytes, heavily-stained densely-packed lymphocytes surrounding the inner marrow clear pale medulla in contrast with other groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that 20% Moringa leaves may exert beneficial effects on lipid, antioxidant and immunity statuses properties of growing rabbits.

The effect of including lemongrass extract powder (LGEP) as a phytogenic herbal extract supplementation for growing rabbits on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters and carcase characteristics were evaluated. One hundred twenty unsexed V-Line rabbits, with 35 days age and 802 ± 47 g weight, were used. Rabbits were divided equally into four treatments to be fed on basal diet as a control diet without lemongrass inclusion (LGEP0) or with the inclusion of LGEP at 2 g (LGEP2), 4 g (LGEP4) or 6 g (LGEP6) per kg diet. Feeding LGEP did not significantly affect final body weight, weekly weight gains, feed consumption or feed conversion ratio. Moreover, no significant effect of supplementing rabbit diets with LGEP was observed on all apparent nutrient digestibility. The LGEP4 treatment decreased (P<.05) blood malondialdehyde, while LGEP contained treatments increased blood immunoglobulin G concentration as well as spleen relative weight (P<.01) compared to the control treatment. Although LGEP inclusion levels did not significantly affect productive performance traits, the studied LGEP treatments may help to enhance the anti-oxidative status and relative immune response of growing rabbits.

Many studies have mentioned the advantages of adding wheat germ to chicken diets, but few were interested in studying the effect of the fermentation process on this addition. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adding fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE) and immunostimulant (IS) to the broiler diet and water, respectively, on growth performance, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, immune status, and carcass characteristics. A total of 180 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly and equally assigned into four treatment groups of 5 replicates (9 chicks/replicate) each. The first group (G1) served as a control group with a basal diet and normal drinking water, while the second (G2) and the third (G3) groups were treated with a basal diet supplemented with 0.1 and 0.2% of FWGE, respectively. The fourth group (G4) was treated with one level of immunostimulant (ORGA IMMU ^® , 0.2% in drinking water) and served as a positive control. The experiment lasted 35 days. According to the results, adding 0.2% FWGE to the broiler diet (G3) improved (P≤0.05) feed conversion ratio and increased (P≤0.05) live body weight and body weight gain compared to the control group (G1). The G3 also showed improvements (P≤0.05) in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and white blood cell (WBC) counts. Blood biochemical parameters, such as total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), were positively affected (P≤0.05) by FWGE and immunostimulant treatments. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers for Newcastle disease and avian influenza viruses, phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic index (PI), and lysozyme activity (LA) were significantly (P≤0.05) improved by FWGE and immunostimulant treatments. Furthermore, carcass traits, such as carcass weight and dressing percentage, were improved (P≤0.05) by adding FWGE and immunostimulant treatments. The inclusion of FWGE in the broiler chicken diet by 0.2% had a considerably positive impact on the birds’ growth performance, health, and carcass quality.

This study was carried out at the nucleus breeding rabbit farm, Poultry Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University. The main objectives of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of crossing between two lines of rabbits under selection programs on the productive performance of cross rabbits. Three genetic groups of rabbits were used in the investigation. Alexandria line (A) as a synthetic paternal line, V line (V) as a synthetic maternal line and crossing between A line males and V line females (AV). The studied traits used to evaluate productive performance in these three genetic groups were individual body weight at weaning and at marketing age (BW4 & BW9), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), viability rate (VR) and economic efficiency (EE). A total number of 493, 1602 and 1123 from V, A and AV rabbits, respectively were used in the investigation. The results showed that AV cross rabbits were heavier than pure line rabbits (AA and VV) for BW at two ages studied and DWG during fattening period. On other words, AV genetic group attained the marketing body weight earlier than other two groups. Also, the value of FCR improved in AV growing rabbits compared with those obtained for AA & VV rabbits. Moreover, the VR during fattening period in AV rabbits was the highest, while the lowest one was recorded in V line rabbits. It is clear apparent from these results that, AV group recorded higher values for EE than the other genetic groups. In conclusion, mating between males of the paternal line A and females of the maternal line V gave a cross that saved time and costs in order to reach marketing.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dried red beetroots and commercial betaine on blood hematology, lipid profile and immunity status of growing rabbits. A total of 150, unsexed Alexandria line weaned rabbits, at 4 weeks of age were randomly divided into five groups (30 rabbits each). Rabbits in the first group were fed the control diet, while those in groups 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th were fed on 0.5 %, 1.0 % of dried red beet, 0.1% and 0.2% of commercial betaine, respectively for 5 weeks. Data revealed that treatment groups with dried red beetroots and commercial betaine recorded the higher live body weight at 9 weeks of age, body weight gain, feed consumption from 4 to 9 weeks and improved feed conversion and mortality rate compared to control group. Red blood cells, hemoglobin and packed cell volume was increased significantly compared to control group. All treatments and increasing red beetroots and betaine levels resulted in high in white blood cells, lymphocyte, total protein, globulin and high density lipoprotein levels compared to control, but, total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein values decreased significantly. Liver enzymes and kidney function levels were improved in treatment groups compared to the control group. With dried red beetroots physiological status of growing rabbits was showed an enhanced compared to commercial betaine. The results of economic efficiency indicated that the Alexandria growing rabbit fed 0.5% dried red beetroots has highest relative economic efficiency compared to control, 3nd, 4rd and 5th (108.10, 103.47, 104.72 and 98.79%, respectively). These findings revealed that 0.5 kg/ 100 kg diet may exert beneficial effects on productive performance, hematology parameters, lipid profile and economic efficiency properties of growing rabbits.