Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Effects on reproductive and productive performance and meat quality in rabbit breeding

Stella Agradi; Majlind Sulce; Laura Menchetti; Daniele Vigo; Marta Castrica; Olimpia Barbato; Egon Andoni; Alda Quattrone; Albana Munga; Maria Laura Marongiu; Giulio Curone; Gabriele Brecchia

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2023.03.009

Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Effects on reproductive and productive performance and meat quality in rabbit breeding

Anim Nutr. 2023 Apr 25:14:70-78. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.03.009. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
² Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania.
³ School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.

Abstract

Rabbit breeding has many critical aspects related to reproduction, production, and animal welfare, which reduce its profitability as well as consumer attractiveness. Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) seems to be a good nutritional strategy to improve several aspects of rabbit breeding, enhance animal welfare and produce a new functional food considered healthy for human consumption. For this reason, the main available scientific research regarding the physiological effects of n-3 PUFA rich products supplemented to the rabbit diet will be reviewed. In particular, consequences on the reproductive performances of both doe and buck, the productive parameters, and the meat quality will be analysed.

Keywords: Algae; Fish oil; Linseed; Nutraceutical; Omega 3.