Gonadal Morphometry and Semen Characteristics of Buck Rabbits Fed African Marigold (Aspilia Africana) Leaves Supplemented With Zinc Gluconate
Abstract
A study to evaluate the testicular, epididymal morphometry, semen characteristics and specific spermatozoa morphological abnormalities, lasting 8 weeks, was conducted using 24 New Zealand White grower rabbit bucks aged 10 weeks and weighing 1.4kg on average, treated with Zinc gluconate. The bucks were randomly divided into 4 equal treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated thrice, in a completely randomized design. All the bucks were fed a basal concentrate diet for the duration of the study. Treatment one (control) was made up of conventional forage mixture constituted by Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens and Panicum maximum with zero Zinc gluconate. Treatments two, three and four were constituted by fresh Aspilia africana leaves and Panicum maximum with Zinc gluconate supplemented at 0.00mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg of feed, respectively. Zinc gluconate supplementation at 150mg/kg resulted in significantly (P<0.5) heavier testicles and longer right epididymis. Percentage of sperm with progressive motility, live sperm proportion, sperm concentration, number of sperm per ejaculate, total viable sperm and normal sperm proportion were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in bucks fed A. africana without zinc supplementation but significantly increased with increase in zinc. Total head, tail and mid-piece abnormalities, and cytoplasmic droplets and clumping, were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in bucks receiving zinc supplement. Conversely, gel fractions in semen samples were significantly (P<0.05) higher in bucks treated with zinc. It was concluded that zinc gluconate supplemented at 150 mg/kg of diet effected heavier testicles and longer epididymides in rabbit bucks. Aspilia africana without zinc gluconate reduced semen characteristics and increased specific sperm morphological abnormalities. Supplementing rabbit diets with zinc gluconate at booth 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg significantly ameliorated the deleterious effect of A. africana leaves on semen quality of buck rabbits.
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