ABSTRACT 

Effect of garlic and vitamin E supplementation on gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm characteristics, hematological indices, serum biochemistry, linear body measurement, reproductive hormone and testicular histology of pre pubertal buck rabbit were investigated. A total of 36 bucks with average weight of 1.76kg were used for the 16 weeks experiment. The bucks were randomly assigned to four dietary supplementation and three replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). They were 9 rabbits per treatment with 3 rabbits per replicate. One dietary treatment was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of rabbit at four supplementation rate of 0% garlic and vitamin E (T₁), 3% garlic (T₂) vitamin E (T₃), and 3% garlic and vitamin E (T₄) respectively. Inclusion of vitamin E was at the rate of 3000ɩµ per kilo gram of feed. Performance parameter such as linear body measurement was taken at end of the experiment. Hematological indices, serum biochemistry, organ weight, semen characteristic, reproductive hormone, Testicular morphology and histology were all examined at the end of the experiment. Data collected on different parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean procedure and ANOVA procedure was used to generate the mean and standard error of mean. Significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple range test. Results showed significant increase (P<0.05) in final body weight, ear length, fore limb, hind-limb and body length with range of values; 2.140kg-2.383kg, 11.665cm-13.250cm, 15.165cm-16.882cm, 26.000cm-27.832cm, 11.332cm-12.332cm, 5.082cm-6.165cm and 33.082cm-38.082cm respectively for rabbits fed diet T2 and T₄. There was significant increase in tail length for bucks on T₄ while T4 was similar with the control on the head to shoulder. Haematological parameters showed significant increase in red blood cell (RBC) count for vitamin E group (T₃)_, group 2 (T₂) was higher on mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration MCHC while White Blood Cell (WBC) count decreased with supplementation. T4 monocytes value was significantly (P<0.05) higher. Serum biochemistry characteristics showed significantly higher value on total protein, globulin and albumin for group 3 (T₃). The serum bilirubin and serum enzyme values proved T₂ higher on creatinine and glucose value. Serum enzymes values showed significantly (P<0.05) higher ALT in T₃ and decreased ALP with supplementation. Significantly (P<0.05) higher result were observed in all the parameter in semen evaluation except the semen volume which were similar in all the treatments with values ranging from 0.53ml-0.60ml.  Testicular weight was increased with supplementation. Testicular weight was higher on T₄. Reproductive hormone, Follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone increase with supplementation while the luteinizing hormone decreased. Testicular histology showed increased in density in interstitial space of the seminiferous tubules with supplementation. The result proves that both garlic and vitamin E improve semen production but combination of the two gives a better result. However garlic and vitamin E should be used together for quantitative and qualitative semen production.