INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS ESSENTIAL OIL (ECEO) ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND CAECAL FERMENTATION OF WEANED RABBITS.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil (ECEO) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and caecal fermentation of weaned rabbits. Sixty clinically healthy weaned cross breed male rabbits (Chinchilla x Newzealand white) of about 4 weeks with initial body weight (BW) of 430.81 ± 0.81 g were used for the study. Rabbits were stratified based on their body weight and randomly distributed into four treatment groups of fifteen rabbits each in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 (T1): Basal diet without Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil (ECEO); T2: basal diet with 200 mg/kg ECEO; T3: basal diet with 400 mg/kg ECEO; T4: basal diet with 600 mg/kg ECEO. Average daily weight gain were higher (P<0.05) in T2, T3 and T4 relative to T1. There was no effect of treatments in the average daily feed intake and mortality rate (P>0.05) while feed conversion ratio were greater in T2, T3 and T4 than in T1 (P<0.05). Dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, nitrogen free extracts, organic matter and ether extract digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments. Improved nutrient absorption were improved in rabbits fed diet supplemented with ECEO compared to control group. Volatile fatty acid, acetate, butyrate, propionate and ammonia nitrogen were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatments. Results revealed that ECEO can be supplemented up to 600 mg/kg without posing no harm on rabbit's body physiology and health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]