Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine Additives on Milk Production of Rex Rabbit

This study was designed to explore the effect of Chinese herbal medicine additives on milk production and reproduction performance of rabbit does. Total 99 does were separated into 3 treatments (33 does in each treatment) and fed with the basal diet adding 0, 1%, 2% Chinese herbal medicine additives,respectively. Pre-feeding period was 4 d and test period was 26 d (from the first day of postpartum to the last day before next mating). Daily milk production of does was detected after delivery 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 d. Both litter size and the number of weaned rabbits were recorded. The results showed that milk production of does fed with 2% Chinese herbal medicine additives were increased extremely significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) compared to control group, and there was no significant difference between control group and 1% Chinese herbal medicine additives group (P>0.05). Survival rate of weaned rabbits increased with the increasing dosage of the additives, but did not differ significantly (P>0.05). In conclusion, the Chinese herbal medicine additives could improve milk production of rabbit does and survival rate of weaned rabbits, and the optimal dosage should be 2%.