Herbs and spices as feed addtives in growing rabbits

The European ban of the non-therapeutic use of antibiotic growth promoters and limits in the use of other drugs has increased the rate of digestive disorders and mortality in growing rabbits. Researchers and farmers have to find alternative methods to control gut health and productivity of growing rabbits. Herbs, spices and their extracts (botanicals) have been demonstrated to have a wide range of activities, including animal performance and nutrient availability improvement. Plants and their extracts are used in animal nutrition as appetisers, digestive stimulants, stimulants of physiological functions, for prevention and treatment of certain pathological conditions, and as colorants and antioxidants. Digestive effects of herbs and spices were reported mainly in laboratory animals and humans, and few studies were carried out on farmed animals. In the rabbit, the dietary inclusion of fennel seeds with oregano leaves improved the utilisation of diets. Several studies on plant extracts have shown promising results as growth promoters. In the growing rabbit, the mixture of Lupinus albus L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., and Cassia senna L. as feed additives can be considered a growth promoter. A large number of plant preparations are used as galactagogues. The most frequently used natural products to increase milk production in rabbit does are anise and fenugreek. The antimicrobial effect derives especially from the volatile plant oils. In rabbit, a stabilising effect on the microbiota was observed when diet was supplemented with Digestarom® or thyme oil. When diets were supplemented with thyme and spirulina, an antimicrobial effect on Bacteroides, C. coccoides, C. leptum in the caecum was noticed. The black cumin seeds proved to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immunomodulatory effects. Several herbs and spices have antioxidant effects through dietary supplementation or inclusion in meat and meat products. Several experiments using herbs or/and spices as feed additives for rabbits have to be carried out before practical proposals can be drafted.