Goji berry supplementation in does' diet positively influences both their reproductive and productive performance, likely through adjustment of hormonal patterns and milk production.
In the methodology, this study involved an experiment with 105 nulliparous does divided into three groups two months prior to artificial insemination. The groups were distinguished by their diet: the commercial diet and those supplemented with either 1% or 3% of goji berry. They focused on assessing the effects on hormonal profile and the animals' receptive, productive, and reproductive performance.
The results shed light on increasing receptivity in the group that was supplemented with 1% goji berry over the commercial diet group. Departures noted between both goji-supplemented groups with regard to hormonal concentration, specifically LH, with G1 showing slight edge. There was also a significant interaction effect observed in estrogen concentrations. Additionally, the 1% goji-supplemented group showed higher litter weight than the commercial diet group at both birth and weaning stages, along with a larger litter size at weaning. This group also exhibited the highest average milk production. The study concluded that goji berry supplementation potentially has a positive impact on reproductive and productive performance, possibly through the modulation of hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits.
