EFFECTS OF DIETARY LEMON GRASS (CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS) ON THE SMALL INTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY OF RABBITS
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the impact of dietary lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) on the intestinal morphology of weaner rabbits. A total of sixty rabbits were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments: a control group (0% lemon grass) and four experimental groups supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.0% lemon grass. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Results indicated that dietary lemon grass supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and ileum, particularly at higher inclusion levels. However, no significant (P > 0.05) changes were observed in jejunal villi height across treatments. These findings suggest that lemon grass can positively influence intestinal morphology, potentially improving nutrient absorption and overall gut health in weaner rabbits. Further research is required to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying these effects and to optimize the inclusion rate of lemon grass in rabbit diets.
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