Effect of Carduus marianum herb on the productive performances of growing rabbits

The European ban of AGPs in the animal feed from 2006 had 151 revived doubts previously considered dismissed, such as those regarding the control of the farm animal productive performances and health status protection. Carduus marianum is an herbaceous plant from the Mediterranean countries traditionally used in liver and gastrointestinal diseases as natural remedy. In the present study was shown the efficacy of Carduus marianum podwer feed addictive in the growing rabbit performances. 144 animals were divided in three groups: the control group (C=51 animals) was fed with a basal diet, the other two groups received the basal diet with supplementation of Carduus marianum herbal power in two concentrations: 0.5% (H1, n=48) or 1.0% (H2, n=45). The rabbits were reared from 5th to 11th weeks and, subsequently, were slaughtered, then carcasses were weighed, chilled for 24 h at 3 °C, dissected and carcass yield were calculated. Fore, mid and hind parts were dissected and the percentage on the chilled carcass was calculated. The results showed how growth performances and carcass traits were not affected by supplementation of Carduus marianum herbal extract, with exception of H2 mortality values that were lower (P<0.05) particularly during the week 7-8.