Combined Supplementation of Nano-Zinc Oxide and Thyme Oil Improves the Nutrient Digestibility and Reproductive Fertility in the Male Californian Rabbits
Ahmed A. A. Abdel-Wareth,
Mohammed Ali Al-Kahtani,
Khalid Mushabab Alsyaad,
Fatma Mohsen Shalaby,
Islam M. Saadeldin,
Fahdah Ayed Alshammari,
Muhammad Mobashar,
Mohamed H. A. Suleiman,
Abdalla H. H. Ali,
Mohamed O. Taqi,
Hazem G. M. El-Sayed,
Mahmoud S. Abd El-Sadek,
Abdallah E. Metwally,
Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed
Affiliations
Ahmed A. A. Abdel-Wareth
Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
Mohammed Ali Al-Kahtani
Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Mushabab Alsyaad
Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Fatma Mohsen Shalaby
Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Islam M. Saadeldin
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519 , Egypt
Fahdah Ayed Alshammari
Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Literature, Northern Border University, Rafha 76312, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Mobashar
Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
Mohamed H. A. Suleiman
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia
Abdalla H. H. Ali
Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
Mohamed O. Taqi
Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Dokki-Giza 12311, Egypt
Hazem G. M. El-Sayed
Regional Centre for Food and Feed (RCFF), Agricultural Research Centre, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Mahmoud S. Abd El-Sadek
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
Abdallah E. Metwally
Department of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed
Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
The present study aimed to determine the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), thyme oil (THO), or their combination on the nutrient digestibility coefficients, reproductive parameters, and some blood metabolites of male Californian rabbits. One hundred rabbits, 29-weeks of age (initial body weight 3.48 ± 0.08 kg) were randomly distributed into four groups, 25 rabbits each. Treatment groups were fed a control diet, a control diet supplemented with ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg), THO (500 mg/kg), or combination of ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg) and THO (500 mg/kg). The feeding trial lasted for 35 days. Results showed improvements in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber in ZnO-NPs, THO, and their combination treated groups compared to those of control. Furthermore, semen volume, sperm motility, vitality, and morphology were significantly improved (p p < 0.05). In conclusion, ZnO-NPs, THO, or their combination improved the digestibility of nutrients, liver/ kidney functions, semen characteristics, and testosterone concentration in male rabbits.
