Abstract
Soy lecithin (SL) is widely used in the food industry as an emulsifier, antioxidant, and wetting agent and due to its composition and properties, it might be used as a nutritional supplement for animals. To this purpose, forty V-line rabbit does were used to estimate the effect of dietary supplementation of SL on productive and reproductive responses during winter and summer seasons. The animals were divided into four groups of 10 does each. The first group served as the control, while the second, third and fourth groups were supplemented with dietary SL at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, respectively. SL supplementation reduced the total content of saturated fatty acids and increased the total unsaturated fatty acid content of doe milk when provided at 1.5% during both seasons (P<0.05). When provided at 1 and 1.5% SL inclusion levels, feed intake was reduced (P<0.05), while at the 1.5% addition level the body weight of the rabbit does increased after mating and kindling (P<0.05). The body weight of rabbit does decreased during summer (P<0.05). Both inclusion levels of 1% and 1.5% improved the size and weight of the kits, receptivity, conception rate and the number of service per conception compared to the control group. The SL supplementation x season interaction affected milk production; 1-1.5% SL increased milk production in both seasons (P<0.05), with milk production always being higher during winter compared to summer. The addition of 1.0% soybean lecithin improved productive and reproductive traits of the V-line rabbit does and growth performance of their kits up to weaning in the winter and summer seasons.