Tropical herbs (Phyllantus amarus, Moringa oleifera and Viscum album) as feed additive in rabbit production: effects on performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress markers

The use of herbs of medicinal importance to enhance the welfare and productivity of livestock is emerging as an alternative to anti-microbial. The medicinal effect of Phyllantus amarus, Moringa oleifera and Viscum album on growth and physiology of sixty mixed breed rabbit bucks of 6 weeks old weighing 775±54.23g. Fresh leaves of these medicinal plants were harvested, weighed, shade-dried, designated as leaf meals and incorporated into the experimental diets as T1 diet without leaf meal (control), basal diets with 5% inclusion each of Moringa oleifera (MoLM), Viscum album (MiLM), Phyllantus amarus (PLM). The bucks were allotted to experimental diets in a completely randomized design of the 56-day study. Growth indices were monitored and blood samples collected on day 56, to assess serum biochemistry and oxidative stress markers using standard procedure. The result obtained showed that feed conversion ratio and weight gain of rabbits on PLM inclusion were superior to those fed MoLM and MiLM inclusive diets. The medicinal plants possess a hypocholesterolemic effect on the rabbit. Oxidative stability of rabbits fed with the inclusion of either MoLM, MiLM or PLM were significantly (p