EFFECT OF USING FERMENTED POMEGRANATE PEEL ON GROWING RABBIT GROWTH PERFORMANCE, IMMUNITY, AND INTESTINAL HEALTH UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT STRESS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary fermented pomegranate peel on growth performance, plasma metabolites, immune response, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal architecture in growing rabbits under environmental heat stress. Two hundred, 35-day-old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to five experimental groups with four replicates each. The experimental groups were as follows: CON, a basal diet serving as the control; supplemented with 1.5% pomegranate peel(PP1), 3% pomegranate peel(PP2), 1.5% fermented pomegranate peel(FPP1), and 3% fermented pomegranate peel(FPP2).The results showed significant improvements in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight (P£0.05)in rabbits fed PP2, FPP1, and FPP2 compared to the other groups; however, feed intake and other carcass characteristics were unaffected. Moreover, feeding FPP2 increased the digestibility of dry matter, crude fiber, and crude protein compared to the other groups. Furthermore, FPP2 supplementation significantly increased plasma total protein and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, (P£0.05), while reducing triglycerides, total cholesterol, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST, (P£0.05). FPP2 supplementation enhanced the immune response and oxidative stability by significantly increasing immunoglobulin A (IgA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA, (P£0.05). Adding FPP2 boosted gut health by significantly modifying the cecal microbiota, increasing the Lactobacillus count, and decreasing E. coli and Clostridium. Perfringens(P£0.05) and increasing villi height and villi height: crypt depth ratio(P£0.05). It can be concluded that supplementing with fermented pomegranate peel can enhance growth performance, lipid profile, immunity, oxidative stability, and intestinal integrity in heat-stressed rabbits. Adding fermented pomegranate peel may provide an effective way to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on rabbits.