Abstract:
Objective Effects of addition of allicin and/or Bacillus natto in feed on the production performance, antioxidant enzymes, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota of Fujian white rabbits were studied for forage supplement as an antibiotic replacement.
Method Forty-eight healthy 40-day-old Fujian white rabbits with similar body weight were randomly divided into 4 groups of 12 rabbits each, half male and half female, for a 50 d feeding trial. The rabbits in the control group were fed a basal diet (Group A), while those in the treatment groups the basal diet supplemented with 200 mg·kg−1 allicin (Group B), 0.5% B. natto (Group C), and 200 mg·kg−1 allicin+0.5% B. natto (Group D). Growth of the rabbits was monitored during the trial, and at the end, the animals were slaughtered to determine the meat production, serum antioxidant enzymes, intestinal morphology, and cecum microbiota.
Results (1) The rates of diarrhea occurrence and mortality of the rabbits in Group B, C, and D were lower than those of Group A. The average daily weight gain of Group D was significantly higher than that of Group A and B at P<0.01 and Group C at P<0.05. Group D had the lowest F/G among all, and significantly higher half-eviscerated weight than that of Group A or Group B (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in the eviscerated and half-eviscerated rates among the groups. (2) On serum GSH-Px, Group A was significantly lower than Group B, C and D. The difference between group A and Group B was significant (P<0.05), while those between Group A and Group C and between Group A and Group D extremely significant (P<0.01). (3) The ileal crypt depth of Group B was significantly higher than Group C(P <0.05). Group A had a lower depth of jejunum crypt than the treatment groups and significantly different from Group B (P<0.01) and Group D (P<0.05). (4) The unclassified_o__Clostridiales significantly differed at both family and genus levels among the groups (P<0.05) with Group A being significantly higher than Group D. Whereas, at genus level, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 significantly differed among the groups (P<0.05), but Group A was significantly higher than Group C.
Conclusion The combined use of allicin and B. natto in feed significantly increased the average daily weight gain and half-eviscerated weight, decreased the F/G, increased the depth of jejunum crypt, reduced the harmful bacteria population, balanced the cecum microbiota, mitigated diarrhea and deaths, promoted the growth and development of Fujian white rabbits.