ABSTRACT

A study to evaluate the testicular and carcass characteristics of rabbit bucks fed diet supplemented with Aspilia africana and vitamin E was conducted at the Rabbitry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. A total of 18 mixed breed of growing rabbit bucks (New Zealand white and Dutch belted) within the age range of 3-4 months was used for this experiment. The study lasted for a period of eight (8) weeks. The rabbit bucks were divided into three treatment groups designated as T,, T; and Ty in a completely randomized design (CRD) and fed three diets supplemented with Aspilia africana leaf meal and vitamin E at different combinations. Each treatment was replicated 3 times consisting 2 bucks per replicate and 6 animals per treatment. T; served as the control (no Aspilia africana and vitamin E), T; (Aspilia africana alone), and T, (Aspilia africana + Vitamin E) supplemented in the diets. Testicular parameters measured were: scrotal circumference, weight and volume of testes. Parameters measured on the carcass were: live weight, carcass cut parts and dressing percentage. At the end of the study, final live weights and dressed weight were 1605.00, 1802.50 and 1779.50g; 820, 920 and 910g for T, T; and Ty respectively; this result, showed that the bucks placed on the diet supplemented with Aspilia africana had improved growth performance in terms of live weight and carcass characteristics. Despite the positive growth impact of the Aspilia africana, it tended to affect the testes negatively as it was noticed on the bucks in treatments 2 and 3 which had relatively lower values of 5.71 and 3.46g for testes weight; 5.79 and 3.57ml for testes volume respectively in this study than those of the control group (6.08g, 6.13ml). The values obtained in the testicular morphometry had no significant (P>0.05) differences across the treatment groups, although bucks in diet 3 had the least values. All parameters in the carcass characteristics_ and organ weights also showed no significant difference (P>0.05) across the treatment groups. The body weights of bucks fed Aspilia africana were higher than the weights of bucks in the control diet. The results obtained show an enhancement in growth and carcass quality of the growing rabbit bucks following dietary supplementation of Aspilia africana. It was concluded from this study that supplementation of diets for growing rabbits with Aspilia africana enhances growth performance. Thus confirming earlier reports on Aspilia africana as having growth promoting potentials.