Effect of Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Moringa oleifera Leaves Additives on Growth Performance and Blood Constituents of Hi-Plus Rabbits Under North Sinai Conditions, Egypt

This study set out to explore the impact of naturally occurring antioxidants present in microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata (NCO) and/or Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves on the blood constituents and productive performance of Hi-Plus growing rabbits in North Sinai. Sixty weaned Hi-Plus rabbits were categorized into four equal treatments at random. Every treatment was divided into three equal replicates at random. ‎ The first treatment was used as a control and did not include supplements. In addition ‎to the basic diet, the second treatment rabbits were given 20 g of microalgae NCO / kg diet ‎‎(2.0%). The rabbits in the third treatment were fed the basic diet plus 50 g of MO / kg diet ‎‎(5.0%). The rabbits in the fourth treatment were fed the basal diet plus 20 g NCO and 50 g ‎MO/ kg diet. The findings demonstrated that the rabbits receiving MO had higher body weights (BW) at ‎‎8 and 9 weeks (P<0.05) than the rabbits in the control group. When compared to the ‎control group, the rabbits fed (NCO + MO) had the highest (P<0.05) BW at 10th to 12th ‎weeks. At 7-8 weeks, the rabbits that received MO gained more body weight (P<0.05) than the ‎rabbits in the control group, NCO, and NCO+MO. When compared to the rabbits in the ‎control group, the rabbits fed NCO+MO showed the significantly highest body weight gain ‎at 9–10, 10–11, and 11–12 weeks, in addition to the highest overall weight gain.‎ The NCO+MO group demonstrated improvement (P<0.05) in feed conversion at 5–6, 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 and TFC compared to the control group. Plasma total protein and globulin concentrations were increased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO+MO compared to the control group. Cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT), and urea levels were decreased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO compared to the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSX) and total antioxidant capacity were increased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO as compared with the control group. However, malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO as compared to the control group. Insulin, growth, and triiodothyronine hormones were increased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO compared to the control group. Examination of the liver tissue sections seven weeks post NCO, MO, and NCO+MO feeding showed well-developed liver architectures with a normal appearance of liver cells and blood sinusoids. In conclusion, ‎ marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata at 2% and Moringa oleifera at 5% added to ‎the diets of Hi-Plus growing rabbits in North Sinai settings improved growth ‎performance, certain hematological parameters, hormonal patterns, and oxidative status ‎by shielding the tissues from oxidative damage without negatively affecting the health of ‎the rabbits.