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This study evaluated leukocyte and immune parameters in female rabbits and their kits from three genetic lines (R, RF, and RFLP) during their first reproductive cycle. The R line was selected for growth rate over 37 generations, the RF line was derived from elite R animals, and the RFLP was obtained by backcrossing the RF line with a maternal line (LP). In females, the total lymphocyte percentage decreased from the first AI to weaning (−15.8 percentage points; p  < 0.001; MIXED model); granulocytes peaked at weaning (+12.4 percentage points greater than the AI and +4.4 percentage points greater than parturition; p  < 0.01; MIXED model). The CD4 +  /CD8 +  ratio increased 53.4% ( p  < 0.001; MIXED model), and the haptoglobin concentration doubled ( p  < 0.001; MIXED model). RF and RFLP had higher total lymphocyte percentages than R did (+6.4 and +4.6 percentage points; p  < 0.05; MIXED model). R females had lower CD4 +  percentages and CD4 +  /CD8 +  ratios than RLFP females did (−3.4 percentage points and −24.4%; p  < 0.05; MIXED model) but higher monocyte and granulocyte percentages (on average +0.9 and +4.1 percentage points; p  < 0.05; MIXED model). At weaning, R kits had fewer T lymphocytes and CD4 +  T lymphocytes than RF kits did (−8.1 and −6.1 percentage points; p  < 0.05; GLM) and lower CD25 +  and phagocytosis of heterophils than RFLP kits did (−0.8 and −1.2 percentage points; p  < 0.05; GLM). The results suggest that creating a paternal line via elite animals (RFs) and backcrossing it with a robust line could improve immune status and stayability, offering insights into the impacts of rabbit breeding on immune health and reproductive success.

Animal husbandry development is influenced by various factors, with heat stress (HS) being a significant factor. The aim of this experiment was to explore the potential of natural antioxidants such as vitamin C (VITC), vitamin E (VITE), lycopene (LYC), and allicin (AL) in enhancing growth, immune function and maintaining the redox status of fattening rabbits under HS. Male weaning rabbits ( n  = 150, 5 weeks of age) were randomly assigned to 5 groups. The rabbits were fed a basal diet (control group) or supplemented with 40 mg of vitamin E (VE40), 5 mg of vitamin C (VC5), 150 mg of lycopene (LYC150), or 150 mg of allicin (AL150) per kg of diet, respectively, under summer Egyptian conditions. The overall temperature humidity index (THI) value was 29.76, indicating severe HS during the experimental period. The findings indicated that all dietary supplemented groups showed significant improvements in live body weight at 8 weeks ( P  < 0.0001) and 11 weeks ( P  < 0.05) of age compared to the control group. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved with all additives ( P  < 0.05), while feed intake and carcass traits were not affected by the treatments ( P  > 0.05). The AL group had the highest dressing percentage compared to the other groups ( P  < 0.05). Feeding stressed rabbits with antioxidant supplements resulted in a higher hemoglobin concentration compared to the control group ( P  < 0.05). Aspartate transaminase (AST), triglycerides, and creatinine levels were decreased with all additives as compared to the control group ( P  < 0.05). Total protein and albumin were significantly higher in AL group than in other groups ( P  < 0.05). The serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was significantly increased, while tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were decreased by all feed additives ( P  < 0.05). Immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM) did not differ among all experimental groups ( P  > 0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) levels were higher in all supplement groups compared to the HS group ( P  < 0.05). All dietary supplements significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver tissues and blood serum compared to the control group ( P  < 0.05). Collectively, allicin emerged as a potent shield against heat stress, bettering lycopene and vitamins E and C in safeguarding the well-being of growing rabbits.

The dwarf phenotype characterizes the smallest of rabbit breeds and is governed largely by the effects of a single dwarfing allele with an incompletely dominant effect on growth. Dwarf rabbits typically weigh under 1 kg and have altered craniofacial morphology. The dwarf allele is recessive lethal and dwarf homozygotes die within a few days of birth. The dwarf phenotype is expressed in heterozygous individuals and rabbits from dwarf breeds homozygous for the wild-type allele are normal, although smaller when compared to other breeds. Here, we show that the dwarf allele constitutes a ∼12.1 kb deletion overlapping the promoter region and first three exons of the HMGA2 gene leading to inactivation of this gene. HMGA2 has been frequently associated with variation in body size across species. Homozygotes for null alleles are viable in mice but not in rabbits and probably not in humans. RNA-sequencing analysis of rabbit embryos showed that very few genes (4–29 genes) were differentially expressed among the three HMGA2/dwarf genotypes, suggesting that dwarfism and inviability in rabbits are caused by modest changes in gene expression. Our results show that HMGA2 is critical for normal expression of IGF2BP2, which encodes an RNA-binding protein. Finally, we report a catalog of regions of elevated genetic differentiation between dwarf and normal-size rabbits, including LCORL-NCAPG, STC2, HOXD cluster, and IGF2BP2. Levels and patterns of genetic diversity at the LCORL-NCAPG locus further suggest that small size in dwarf breeds was enhanced by crosses with wild rabbits. Overall, our results imply that small size in dwarf rabbits results from a large effect, loss-of-function (LOF) mutation in HMGA2 combined with polygenic selection.

The use of nano-selenium (Nano-Se) in the rabbit industry has gained attention as an optimal selenium source due to its potential benefits. This study evaluated the effects of varying levels of Nano-Se in drinking water on growth, carcass traits, blood profiles, microbial counts, and economic efficiency in growing rabbits. Seventy-two male V-line rabbits (five weeks old) were divided into four groups: a control group (T1, 0 ppm Nano-Se) and three treatment groups receiving Nano-Se at 0.1 ppm (T2), 0.2 ppm (T3), and 0.3 ppm (T4) for eight weeks. Results showed significant improvements ( p  < 0.01) in growth performance, including final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, particularly at 0.1 ppm. Carcass yield and haemato-biochemical markers also improved significantly, with higher Nano-Se levels (0.2 and 0.3 ppm) enhancing kidney and liver functions and antioxidant activity, as reflected by reduced urea, AST, and MAD levels. Additionally, Nano-Se supplementation reduced pathogenic bacterial counts in the cecum, particularly Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp., and improved the total bacterial count at higher doses. Economically, Nano-Se supplementation decreased production costs and significantly increased net profit and efficiency, especially at the 0.1 ppm dose. In conclusion, Nano-Se, particularly at 0.1 ppm in drinking water, improved growth, health, and economic outcomes, positioning it as a valuable supplement for sustainable rabbit farming.

Neem is a plant used both as food and in traditional medicine. Its many active components, such as Carotenoids, Saponins, Triterpenoids and Nimbidin, may render it a beneficial feed additive for rabbits. Healthy weaned rabbits from breed V-line (VL) were selected to examine the effect of neem ( Azadirachta indica ) on growth performance, carcass traits, morphology, and blood parameters responses. Thirty-two V-line rabbits (45 days old) were randomly assigned to four groups ( n  = 8 per group): a control group (G1) receiving a basal diet, and three treatment groups (G2, G3, G4) receiving the basal diet supplemented with 5%, 10%, and 15% neem leaf powder, respectively. Neem leaf supplementation had no significant effect on the rabbits’ growth performance, live body weight, carcass weight, lungs and abdominal fat, dressing percentage and liver. There was a significant ( P  < 0.05) increase in intestine length in G4. Nevertheless, the cecum considerably shrank ( P  < 0.05) in G3 and G4, which might have a more negative impact on growth performance. Certain biochemical measures (albumin, globulin, triglycerides, LDL, total protein, cholesterol, glucose, AST, and ALT) did not exhibit significant variations. However, a significant ( P  < 0.01) drop in blood urea occurred after the higher concentration. A significant ( P  < 0.05) rise in HDL after neem supplementation. Histologically, the liver showed signs of hepatotoxicity in the group supplemented with neem leaves, such as abnormal hepatocytes’ nuclear membranes, pyknotic nuclei, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Additionally, the portal and central veins were congested, and a greater number of Kupffer cells were seen. In conclusion, the findings suggest that dietary neem leaf supplementation may have adverse effects on rabbit health and performance, particularly at higher concentrations.

Rabbit meat production offers a sustainable solution to meet the rising demand for protein, particularly in regions abundant in plant biomass. This review explores the potential of forages (legumes and non-legumes), medicinal, herbal, and aquatic plants as alternative rabbit feed sources. These alternatives boost protein, fiber, and bioactive compound content, enhancing productive performance, gut health, immunity, and meat characteristics. Challenges such as nutritional variations due to geographic location, seasonal changes, and processing methods, alongside nutrient-hostile factors and high fiber content, must be addressed. Nonetheless, these plants can be integrated into rabbit diets at levels of up to 10% without compromising animal health, performance, or digestibility. The study emphasizes the feasibility of incorporating alternative forages into rabbit feed, improving resource efficiency and sustainability in rabbit meat production. Notably, research indicates comparable growth performance between rabbits fed unconventional plants and those on conventional diets. Aquatic plants and aromatic herbs emerge as promising alternatives, enhancing growth, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics in rabbits. Despite challenges, careful dietary formulation can mitigate risks associated with certain unconventional feedstuffs. This review provides insights into formulating balanced, sustainable rabbit diets, highlighting the need for further research to optimize inclusion levels and mitigate anti-nutritive substances. Exploring unconventional plants as viable alternatives holds promise for enhancing both animal welfare and economic efficiency in the rabbit farming industry.

The rabbit is an important model species for developmental and translational research. Here, we used histological imaging and single-cell transcriptomics to characterize gastrulation and early organogenesis in the rabbit. We identified substantial transcriptional differences between the rabbit and mouse, highlighting the power of cross-species comparative genomics to elucidate early human development.

This study aims to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different concentrations of oligofructose (FOS) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal microbial composition in growing rabbits. One hundred female Dehua black rabbits (34 d of age) were randomly assigned to four groups (CON, FOS-1, FOS-2, and FOS-3), with twenty-five rabbits in each group. The CON group received only a basal diet, while the FOS-1/FOS-2/FOS-3 group received the diet supplemented with 0.3%/0.6%/0.9% FOS, respectively. The trial period lasted for 72 days. Our results revealed that FOS supplementation could improve the growing performance of rabbits and decrease the feed/gain ratio. FOS significantly enhanced serum antioxidant enzyme (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA). The levels of plasmic immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and intestinal immune factors (IL-1α, IL-2, and sIgA) were significantly improved with the FOS supplement. Additionally, FOS can improve intestinal morphology and enhance the activity of intestinal enzymes, including cellulase, lipase, and protease. Furthermore, FOS supplementation influenced the composition of intestinal microflora by increasing the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group (barrier-enhancing) and Monoglobus (fiber-degrading). In conclusion, the addition of FOS has a positive impact on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal health of growing rabbits. The optimal dietary addition for rabbits was identified as 0.6% oligofructose.

The study investigates the effect of dietary herbal mixture (HM) levels on growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits’ performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemicals, and microbiological characteristics from 5 to 13 weeks of age. In this study, 96 New Zealand White rabbits (male and female ratio 1:1) were used, and they were five weeks old. The rabbits were at random allocated into four experimental groups ( n  = 24 each) comprising 12 replicates, each with two rabbits. The 1st group acted as the control and received feed without additional supplements. The 2nd group received 0.30% HM, the 3rd group received 0.50% HM, and the 4th group received 0.70% HM. As the concentration of the herbal mixture extract was raised, the inhibitory zones grew significantly. The addition of HM to rabbit diets at a 0.5% concentration significantly increased body weight and weight gain compared to the control diet and other treatments. The apparent digestibility coefficient of ether extracts and the rabbits' capacity to absorb lipids significantly increased with increasing HM levels up to 0.7%. In addition, the HM increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreased triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. Interestingly, when rabbits were fed varying amounts of HM, all types of bacteria significantly declined, yet helpful lactic acid bacteria increased. In conclusion, HM supplementation improved rabbit growth, blood parameters, and gut microbial balance, with a 0.5% level yielding the best results, indicating that HM has significant potential as a novel feed supplement for growing rabbits.

Genetic characterization and its association with quantitative traits in local breeds are important tools for the genetic improvement and sustainable management of animal genetic resources. Myogenic regulatory factor 5 ( MYf5 ) and POU class 1 homeobox 1 ( POU1F1 ) are candidate genes which play important roles in growth and development of mammals. The present study aims to detect the genetic diversity of the MYf5 and POU1F1 genes in four local Egyptian rabbit breeds and their association with growth traits, using PCR-restriction enzyme (PCR–RFLP), PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR–SSCP), and direct sequencing techniques. The results showed that MYF5 exon 1 was observed with two genotypes in Baladi Black (BB), Gabali (GB) and New Zealand White (NZW) breeds while APRI-line (APRI) presented one genotype. The genetic diversity of Myf5 exon 2 between breeds showed two genotypes in APRI compared to three in NZW and four genotypes in BB and GB breeds. The genetic diversity of the POU1F1 gene (intron 5 and partial cds) in different rabbit breeds was two genotypes in NZW and three genotypes in BB, GB, and APRI breeds with different frequencies for each genotype. Based on the statistically significant difference between genes genotypes and growth weight, the results suggested that the genotypes of Myf5 exon 2 (1 and 2) of the BB breed, Myf5 exon 2 genotype 2 of the APRI breed, and genotype 1 of Myf5 exon 1 and genotype 1 of POU1F1 of the NZW breed compared to genotypes for each gene can be considered candidate molecular markers associated with the improvement of growth traits in these breeds.