ABSTRACT

Eighteen (18) sexually mature Chinchilla rabbit bucks were used to evaluate the effect of administration of Vitamin E on the sexual behaviour and semen quality of rabbit bucks. The vitamin E was administered orally to the rabbit bucks as follows T1 0 IU, T2 80 IU and T3 120 IU, and semen samples were collected and analyzed. Results obtained showed that the treatment had no significant effect (P>0.05) on sexual behaviour.Thcre was a reduction in the reaction time between Tl, T2 and T3 (50scc, 48scc. and 45sec respectively). There was also a reduction in number of mounts between Tl (4 times), and 3 times in T2 and T3 which resulted to the libido scores as Tl (2.5), and T2 (2.56) as low and T3 (3.00) which can be termed as moderate. Significant differences (p<0.005) were however observed for semen quality. Semen volume tended to increase with increase in the level of Vitamin E with T2 having the highest value 0.77ml and Tl has the lowest value of 0.50ml. Sperm concentration for Tl, T2 and T3 were recorded as follows: 126.33 x 106/ml, 142.67x106/ml, and 150.00x106/ml respectively) while live sperm proportion were 46.00%, 56.67%, 62.33% for Tl, T2 and T3 respectively. Abnormal was 30.00%, 16.33% and 16.33% for Tl, T2 and T3 respectively) while motility was 53.00%, 60.00% and 68.00% in Tl, T2 and T3 respectively. It is concluded from this study that Vitamin E improves the reproductive performance of the rabbit bucks. It is recommended that Vitamin E should be given to the breeding rabbit bucks at the rate of 120 IU biweekly to improve their reproductive performance