Modulating Serum Biochemistry, Lipid Profile, and Antioxidants Defense in Rabbit Bucks with Dried Date Palm Fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) Meal Supplementation

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with dried date palm fruit meal (DDFM) on serum biochemistry, lipid profile, and antioxidant defense mechanisms in rabbit bucks. A total of thirty-six (36) male rabbits between the age of 8–10 weeks were used for the study. The rabbits were randomly allocated to the to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design designated as T1 (0.00% DDFM, control), T2 (0.50% DDFM), T3 (1.00% DDFM), and T4 (1.50% DDFM) in a 168-day (24 weeks) study. Each treatment was further replicated three time to have three rabbits per replicate. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from the ear vein for biochemical, lipid profile and serum antioxidant examinations. The data obtained were analyzed in a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 20. The Serum biochemical analysis indicated significant reductions (p < 0.05) in total protein, albumin, urea, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels with increasing DDFM supplementation, while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and globulin levels exhibited a dose-dependent increase. The mean globulin was higher (p<0.05) in bucks fed T3 diet, with a mean value of 34.00 g/dL than in those fed T1, T2, and T4 diets respectively, which all had similar statistical values of 26.50, 23.00, and 22.50 g/dL respectively. Lipid profile analysis revealed significant (p < 0.05) alterations, with elevated triglycerides and total cholesterol at 1.50% and 1.00% DDFM inclusion, respectively, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels remained unaffected. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT), increased significantly (p < 0.05) in response to DDFM supplementation, suggesting enhanced oxidative stress resistance. These findings therefore, indicate that DDFM supplementation at 1.00% can modulate key metabolic biomarkers and improves antioxidant defense mechanisms in rabbit bucks. However, higher inclusion levels may pose potential risks related to lipid metabolism.