Effect of some nutraceutical on the Pregnancy and Lactational Performance of Rabbits

One of the most significant elements affecting domestic animals' reproductive performance is feeding, particularly during the pregnancy and lactation periods. The purpose of this review is to describe what is currently known about the effect of some nutraceutical (dates fruit, L- carnitine, fenugreek, royal jelly and silymarin) on lactation, milk composition, growth performance and immunity in lactating rabbits. The benefits of using current nutraceuticals were recorded as an improvement of milk yield and its composition, kitts weights (at birth and weaning), survival rate as well as improvement the immunity, which give the positive effects on reproductive performance of rabbits. L-carnitine supplementation produces milk with higher milk fat. This may be due to greater serum triacyl glyceride concentration that was useful for milk fat synthesis. Fenugreek contains chemical components known as phytoestrogens, which give the positive effect on milk yield. Silymarin has galactagogues effect which result in an improvement of prolactin values and increases milk production. The increased milk output has a positive impact on the birth and weaning weights as well as daily growth of offspring. It can be concluded that dates, L-carnitine, fenugreek, royal jelly and silymarin have beneficial effects on milk quantity and quality, growth performance and immunity of does and their kittens.