Growth Performance, Semen Blood Characteristics Of Rabbits Feed Diets Containing Garunja Kola Seeds

ABSTRACT 

The effect oldies containing Gaicinia kola seed meal on growth performance. semen and blood characteristics ol 1 8  bucks aged 3-4 months \'erc investigated in an experiment that lasted for 4 months. The anima Is were randomly assigned to 3 treatments ol 3 replicates each. Three experimental diets. T, (control: containing 0% (I. lw/a seed meal). T2 (2.5% G. lw/a seed meal) and T3(5% 0. lw/a seed meal) were administered ad lihiium to the animals. Body weight gain was sigili ficantly ( P<O.05 higher in 12 than in the oilier two groups which vere similar (P0.05), \ hile dai K ked intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 and i (69.81l .36g and 66.14 ±3.1 2g respectively) than in T (56.38 +1.71). Feed conversion ratio (FUR) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 (6.90±0.70) than in T1 and T2 which were similar (P>0.05). There was significant (P<0.05) prol i leration of total \\I[3( and l\'mpllocvte counts in T2 than in Ii and T3which were similar (P>0.05). Biochemical analysis recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher aspartate amino transam inase (AST) in T2 (81 .67 ± 4.41 lu/L) than in T (61 .0 ±2.521u/L) and T3(68, 67± 3.4 lu/L) which were similar (P>0.05 ). A Ian inc amino transam inase (A LI) as sim i ar (P>0.05 ) in i ( 59.0±2.651 u/L) and T3(54.0±1 .01 n/L) hut significantly ( P<0.03 ) higher than (42.33±4.631u/L). [otal spenu count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in 13 (115.67± 33 x106) than in T1 (104. 67 ± 2.73 xl 0) but not significantly (P>0.50) higher than 12 (II 1 .33 ± 1 .86 xl 0), and no significant (P>0.05) diii rence between T1and T2. Sperm motility was similar (P>0.05) in T2(76.33 ± 0.88%) and T3 (73.33± 0.88°A) which were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1 (64.33+ 1 .86%). Percent live sperm were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2(93.33±1 .67%) than in 13 (81 .67± 3.33%) but not significantly higher than T (86.67± 1 .45%). and not significantly (P>0.05) different from 13. Reaction time recorded a dose-dependent difference and were highly significant (P<0.0 I) among the treatments, T27.57± .90s, 12 20.75± I .3 8s and T = I .O O.38s. The results oi this study indicate that i. kolu seed nical improves Feed intake, body weight gain, semen characteristics and sexual drive libido) in rabbit bucks. I-however, there were indications oF possible mild organ degenerations as evident in the significant (P<O.05 ) increase a aspartame am inn transaminase (AST) and alanine amino transaminase (ALT) oF animals consuming diets containing Gurcinici 1(010.