Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of
powder as a dietary supplement on the growth performance, gut morphology, serum concentration of IgG, and the hematology parameters of broiler rabbits. A total of 32 rabbits [New Zealand × Californian] were weaned at 35 days. They were randomly selected for two dietary treatments (eight repetitions per treatment), which consisted of a basal diet and a basal diet supplemented with 1.5% dried-stem powder of
. On day 60 from the initiation of treatment, gut histomorphology (duodenum and cecum), serum concentration of IgG, and hematology parameters were all measured. The results showed that
powder supplementation improved (
< 0.05) the ADFI, ADG, and final BW. Correspondingly, this treatment increased (
< 0.05) the muscle and mucosa thickness and height and width of villi. However, duodenum crypts depth was lower (
< 0.05) when rabbits were fed with this natural product, compared with the basal diet treatment. Results also indicated that the
powder increased (
< 0.05) the serum concentration of IgG but did not change the hematology parameters. This data indicates that
powder, as a supplement, had beneficial effects on increasing the growth performance and serum concentration of IgG, as well as improving the gut morphology without affecting the hematology parameters in broiler rabbits.