Thermoregulatory, libidinal and seminal responses of rabbit bucks to spice-supplemented diets
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Date
2024-09-30
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Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Abstract
This study evaluated the libidinal, seminal, and thermoregulatory effects of
ginger, garlic, and onion supplementations in rabbit bucks. Fifty-five bucks
were allotted to 11 experimental diets comprised of a basal diet with no
spices and 9 others containing ginger, garlic, and onion at 5 g, 10 g, or 15
g/kg feed, with the eleventh diet supplemented with vitamin C at 400 mg/kg
feed. In the wet and dry seasons, the libido, seminal parameters, respiratory
rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT) of the bucks were studied for 8
weeks. The temperature-humidity index (THI) of the rabbit pen was also
monitored during the experiment. Data was analysed using multivariate
analysis of the general linear model and probability with alpha set at <5%
after separation by Duncan Multiple Range Test. Seasonal THI was
significantly higher (p<0.05) in the dry season (30.22°C) than the wet
season (28.92°C). Animals allotted to onion at 10 g/kg feed had the highest
RR in the wet season, while the treatments had no significant effect on RR
in the dry season. Bucks fed the lowest level (5 g/kg feed) of ginger and
onion had significantly lower (p<0.05) RT in both the wet and dry seasons.
Spice supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the buck's
libidinal and sem1nal parameters in both wet and dry seasons. Season
significantly (p<0.05) affected RR, RT, libidinal, and seminal parameters
in spite of spice supplementation. The study concluded that spice
supplementation improved the libidinal, seminal, and thermoregulatory
responses of the rabbit bucks
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Keywords
Dry Season, Temperature - Humidity Index, Rectal temperature, Respiratory rate
Citation
Ajao, B. H & Ola, S. I. (2024). Thermoregulatory, libidinal and seminal responses of rabbit bucks to spice-supplemented diets. Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Journal, 3(2): 224 -231. Published by Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Available online at https//journals.unizik.edu.ng/afnrj/issue/view/310