Effects of Different Forms of Milk Thistle Supplementation in Rabbit Diets on Stress-Induced Physiological Responses

This study evaluated the effects of thermal and noise stress on rabbits (90 HYLA hybrids),focusing on physiological responses, production performance, and welfare. Three dietarytreatments were compared: a control diet (C), a diet supplemented with milk thistle seedcake (SMT), and a diet containing fermented milk thistle seed cake (FMT). The aim was toassess whether these feed additives could mitigate the adverse effects of environmentalstress. Health status was monitored through clinical observation and analysis of biochemicalindicators, including enzymes, lipid and protein metabolism markers, and totalantioxidant status. Thermal stress at the onset of fattening influenced average daily gain,feed intake, and carcass yield, while dietary intervention modulated these effects. The FMTgroup demonstrated the lowest feed intake and most efficient feed conversion during latergrowth stages, but had lower slaughter weight compared with the control. In contrast,rabbits fed the SMT diet achieved the highest slaughter weight and superior growth efficiency.These findings suggest that milk thistle, particularly in combination with probiotic fermentation, can enhance feed utilization, growth performance, and stress resilience inrabbits, contributing to more sustainable and welfare-oriented production systems.本研究以90只HYLA杂交肉兔（HYLA hybrids）为试验对象，评估热应激与噪声应激对其的影响，重点考察生理响应、生产性能及福利水平。本研究设置3组日粮处理方案进行对比：对照组日粮（C组）、添加水飞蓟籽粕（SMT）的日粮，以及添加发酵水飞蓟籽粕（FMT）的日粮。本研究旨在评估这两类饲料添加剂是否能够缓解环境应激带来的不利影响。研究通过临床观察与生化指标分析监测兔群健康状态，检测指标涵盖酶活、脂质与蛋白质代谢标志物以及总抗氧化状态。育肥初期施加的热应激会影响肉兔的平均日增重、采食量及屠宰率，而日粮干预可调控上述效应。发酵水飞蓟籽粕（FMT）组在生长后期的采食量最低、饲料转化率最优，但屠宰体重相较于对照组更低。与之相反，饲喂添加水飞蓟籽粕（SMT）日粮的肉兔屠宰体重最高，生长效率更为优异。本研究结果表明，水飞蓟，尤其是经益生菌发酵处理后，可提升肉兔的饲料利用率、生长性能与抗应激能力，助力构建更具可持续性且福利导向的生产体系。