Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM) specialist, Perla Mabel Marín Mendoza, recently talked about the benefits of cilantro for rabbit breeding. She said that in the productive sector, rabbit breeding is a viable alternative to other meat. This takes into account factors like the rapid growth of the animal, the physical work involved in its management and upbringing, the volumes of food demanded and reproductive capacity.
Marín Mendoza said that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is considering rabbit meat as a priority product and reports a 5 percent increase in its consumption in recent years. She also noted that rabbit is considered a lean, white meat. Eating it can reduce cardiovascular problems and metabolic alterations.
Marín Mendoza said that some of the varieties of plants that are used as condiments in human food have been added to improve the sensory characteristics of rabbit meat meant for consumption, without considering its antioxidant benefits.
Cilantro, she said, is often used as a flavoring agent in the culinary industry and as an antispasmodic and antioxidant in the pharmaceutical industry. Because of its properties, cilantro extract can also be a source of antioxidants for food in the livestock industry, especially in the rabbit industry.
Marín Mendoza concluded that the addition of cilantro extract in rabbits’ diet increased productive behavior.