Dietary supplementation with herbs and microalgae in HYLA rabbits: Effects on metabolism, carcass traits, and meat quality

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary effects of phytogenic supplements on selected blood profile indices in young rabbits, and their consequences on carcass traits and meat quality. Forty weaned farm rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: Control (C), Artichoke leaves (receiving a diet supplemented with 2.5% artichoke; A), Herbs (receiving a diet supplemented with a five-herb mixture, each included at 0.5%; H), and Green Algae (receiving a diet supplemented with 1.25% Chlorella vulgaris and 1.25% Arthrospira platensis ; GA). At 80 days of age, rabbits were slaughtered at a slaughterhouse, and samples of blood and muscle were taken. The most pronounced dietary effects were observed in rabbits fed the artichoke- and green algae-supplemented diets, where reduced glutathione S-transferase ( P < 0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase ( P < 0.01) activities coincided with increased concentrations of both total protein and albumin ( P < 0.01), suggesting lower oxidative stress and improved metabolic adaptation. The chosen dietary supplements did not affect carcass traits, with the exception of hind leg weight and hind leg percentage ( P < 0.05). The highest amino acid (AA) values were consistently recorded in the artichoke group (A), showing a marked increase in critical limiting AA such as lysine and leucine ( P < 0.01). These findings suggest that the phytogenic additives used in this study induced significant changes in the metabolism of fattening rabbits, particularly related to muscle protein synthesis and protein metabolism in rabbits.