La somministrazione di timolo a conigli influenza le performance di crescita

Thymol and other botanicals have antimicrobial properties and may become an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. We investigated the effect of thymol on rabbit growth performances. Fourhundredsixteen male weaned rabbits (Grimaud) were divided into 2 groups and received a commercial diet with or without (control) the addition of thymol at 1000 ppm. Rabbits were fed ad libitum until 49 d when animals were slaughtered and intestinal microbial parameters were assessed. Thymol reduced daily feed intake (- 4.9%; P<0.05) and final live weight (- 3.3%; P<0.01) but did not affect feed efficiency. At 49 d, cecal ammonia concentration was lower in thymol fed animals (- 47%; P<0.001). Thymol influenced in vivo cecal fermentation modulating proteolysis. Nevertheless throughout the study, thymol had a negative effect on rabbits daily feed intake and consequently growth.