Gonadal and Extra-gonadal Sperm Characteristics of Rabbit Bucks Treated With Aqueous Solution of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Pulp

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Baobab Fruit Pulp (BFP) solution on gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm characteristics of rabbit bucks. Twenty-five (25) growing rabbit bucks, (6-7 weeks old) of mixed breed were first raised on standard grower diet for 12 weeks and used for the experiment. The rabbits were housed individually in hutches and assigned to five (5) different treatments: T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 arranged in a 2x2 factorial within a completely randomized design. The treatments were: T1 (control); T2, bucks were administered 50g/l concentration of BFP solution for 7 days; T3 group was administered 50g/l concentration of BFP solution for 14 days; The T4 bucks were administered 100g/l concentration of BFP solution for7 days and T5 animals were administered 100g/l concentration of BFP solution for 14 days. Animals were sacrificed and their reproductive organs removed and processed for sperm evaluation. The results showed that animals that were treated with 50g/l BFP for 7 days had significantly (p<0.05) higher sperm count, motile sperm, normal sperm and live sperm than the control, but similar values with other treatment groups.  Main effects of concentration and administration period as well as their interaction effects on the sperm characteristics were not significant (p>0.05). It is concluded from the study that 50g/l BFP solution can be administered for 7 days to enhance sperm quality of rabbit bucks meant for breeding purpose.