INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ABILITY OF RABBITS

Abstract

Widespread use of nanotechnology is now promising in animal husbandry and agriculture for the diagnosis and prevention of non-communicable diseases, correction of mineral nutrition by improving the bioavailability of nutrients in the body of highly productive animals. In industrial rabbit breeding, there is an unresolved problem with prolonging the use of rabbits, resulting in the rejection of up to 80% of the breeding stock during the year. The results of statistical and scientific research have shown that balanced feeding plays an important role in providing the body with energy during pregnancy and lactation, when the animal's body receives the greatest physiological load. Some studies have shown that the use of organic compounds of mineral elements in the form of nanocompounds in the diet of animals, as a substitute for mineral salts, is promising, but insufficiently studied in animal husbandry. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of feeding sulfur citrate (obtained by nanotechnology) and inorganic compounds – sodium sulfate, which were used 14 days before insemination and for up to 20 days of milk production for reproductive function of rabbits and the number of surviving offspring up to 40 life. The study was performed on rabbits in the conditions of industrial economy. Animals of the control group were fed without restriction complete ration granular feed with free access to water. Rabbits of the I experimental group were fed the diet of the control group and during the day were fed sulfur citrate, at the rate of 8 μg S/kg body weight. The rabbits of the II experimental group were fed the diet of the control group and with water used sodium sulfate in the amount of 40 mg S/kg body weight. Applied additives of sulfur compounds to rabbits were fed 14 days before insemination and for up to 20 days of milk productivity. The reproductive capacity of rabbits was controlled by the number of fertilized and single animals, the preservation of rabbits for 1, 20 and 40 days of life. It was found that on the first day after weaning the number of rabbits in the I and II experimental groups was higher than the control by 8.5 and 4.2%, respectively. The results may indicate the effect of sulfur compounds on the number of fertilized eggs, possibly with indirect effects on female hormonal activity and during fetal development, where the organic compound was characterized by higher bioavailability than control and group II animals. It should be noted that this trend persisted during the following periods of the study. Thus, the number of rabbits at 20 and 40 days of life in the I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 10.4 and 4.4% and 14.0 and 4.6% compared to the control group. The total weight of rabbits that were in a separate nest of the first experimental group at 1, 20 and 40 days of their lives was respectively higher by 10.0; 20.4% and 11.9% compared with the control group. Such results are confirmed by indicators of an individual animal. In particular, the average weight of one rabbit in the nest at 1, 20 and 40 days of life exceeded 1.8; 5.2 and 6.4% of rabbits in the control group. The weight of rabbits in the nest of the second experimental group at 1, 20 and 40 days of life was respectively higher by 2.8; 6.1 and 7.0%, which is justified by the average weight of one rabbit for these periods and amounted to 1.1, respectively; 2.7 and 4.3% compared with animals of the control group. The body weight of rabbits in the suckling period depends entirely on the amount of milk received from rabbits, so the amount of milk produced correlates with the weight of rabbits and the amount of saved offspring. The average amount of milk produced by rabbits of I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 10.2% and 6.6% per day and 20 days of lactation compared to the control. Higher milk yields of rabbits affected the percentage of live rabbits during lactation and after weaning for 40 days of their lives. Thus, the survival of rabbits in the I and II experimental groups was respectively higher by 6.4 and 6.4% and 3.6 and 4.4% at 20 and 40 days of life of rabbits compared to the control group. Thus, the results of the study may indicate a better physiological effect of organic sulfur compound obtained by nanotechnology, which was characterized by higher fertility and high fertility of the offspring, greater bioavailability in the mother, characterized by higher milk production, and the body of rabbits. nests and individual animals, as well as a higher percentage of preserved rabbits by study periods compared to the control group of animals.