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Published on: July 31, 2021
Essential Oil Blend and Ascorbic Acid Supplementation Improves Performance, Semen Characteristics, Redox Balance, and
Haifa Ali Alqhtani1, Huda A Alqahtani2, Ahmed M Elbaz3
1Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
Veterinary Sciences
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Supplementing heat-stressed male rabbits with an essential oil blend and ascorbic acid improved performance, semen quality, and immune response. This combination enhanced antioxidant status and gut health while reducing mortality.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Rabbit Husbandry
Background:
- Heat stress negatively impacts livestock performance and health.
- Male rabbits are susceptible to heat stress, affecting productivity and reproductive parameters.
- Essential oil blends and ascorbic acid are known for their antioxidant and immune-modulating properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of an essential oil blend (EOB) and ascorbic acid (ASA), alone and combined (MAO), on heat-stressed male rabbits.
- To assess the impact on performance, semen characteristics, antioxidant status, gut microbiota, immunity, and gene expression.
- To determine the efficacy of MAO supplementation in mitigating heat stress challenges.
Main Methods:
- One hundred forty male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into four groups: control, EOB, ASA, and MAO.
- Rabbits were fed experimental diets for eight weeks under heat stress conditions.
- Parameters measured included performance indicators, semen quality, blood biochemical markers, antioxidant enzymes, immune factors, gut bacteria, and gene expression.
Main Results:
- MAO supplementation improved stress tolerance by altering glucose, HSP70, and T3 levels.
- Rabbits fed MAO showed increased body weight, carcass weight, nutrient digestibility, and semen quality, with reduced mortality.
- MAO enhanced antioxidant capacity (SOD, GPx, TAC, GSH), improved lipid profiles, boosted immunity (IgA, IgG, IL-10), and modulated gut microbiota (reduced C. perfringens, E. coli) and gene expression (MUC-2, CAT-1, CLDN-1).
Conclusions:
- Combined essential oil blend and ascorbic acid supplementation effectively alleviates heat stress in male rabbits.
- MAO improves productive performance, reproductive capacity, antioxidant defense, immune function, and gut health.
- This nutritional strategy offers a promising approach to enhance rabbit resilience against heat stress.
