Physiological Effects of Zinc Oxide in Some of Reproductive and Blood Parameters in Female Rabbits

Abstract

This study was performed to identify the physiological effects produced by addition of zinc oxide at 96 mg/ kg diet for 40 days in some of reproductive and blood parameters in female rabbits.

    Sixty local domestic rabbits of both sexes were used (20 males and 40 females), the males separated from females while females divided into two group, first group: (20 female) represented the control, the second group: (20 female) represented the treatment group in which ZnO₂ added at 96 mg/ kg diet along the experiment period which lasted from 20/4/2008 to 30/5/2008, after 10 days from the beginning of the trail, mating occur between half males number (10) with the females of the control group and the other half of males with the females of treatment group, the males selected randomly (1male:2 females), then the males removed and the following parameters counted: gestational ratio, mean period of gestation, delivery ratio, mean of the numbers of offspring, the  offspring mean weights, red blood cell level, white blood cell level and hemoglobin.

    The results revealed elevation in the above parameters in the females of treated group than the females of the control group.