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Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizome Powder on Libido, Relative Organ Weight, Semen Quality and Histological changes in the Testes of Rabbit Bucks
Abstract
The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of ginger on libido, relative organ weight, semen quality, and histological changes in the testes of rabbit bucks. Twenty – seven New Zealand White breeder rabbit bucks were assigned to 3 treatments (T1 – T3) of 3 replicates with 3 bucks per replicate in a CRD. Forage-based diet was supplemented with a formulated concentrate containing 17% CP and 2600Kcal/kg Metabolizable energy. 0, 10, and 20g ginger powder was added to 1kg of the concentrate and fed to T1, T2 and T3 respectively daily. The concentrate was administered in the morning while forages were given in the afternoon through the night. Water was given ad libitum. Libido was measured while semen was collected and evaluated. The viscerals and testes were harvested and evaluated. The results showed significant (P<0.05) effect of treatment on all the semen quality parameters measured except semen pH, and normal spermatozoa. Semen volume was higher in T3 (1.55) and T2 (1.00) than T1 (0.67). Semen consistency was highest in T3 (4.00) followed by T2 (3.00) and least in T1 (2.00).T2 and T3 were statistically the same in sperm motility (83.33) and (83.00) and in percentage live spermatozoa proportion (86.90) and (88.70) and were higher than T1 (76.70) and (79.46) respectively. Sperm concentration, total sperm /ejaculate, and total viable sperm increased with dosage and were better in T3 (131.55), (303.90) and (1593.30) respectively than T2 and T1. Spermatozoa morphology was not affected by the treatment (P > 0.05). Organ weights were not affected (P>0.05) except for the liver and testes which were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 than T2 and T1. Libido score significantly (P<0.05) increased with dosage. Reaction time was significantly (P<0.05) lower and better in T3 than T2 and T1, Testicular histology showed no structural morphologic abnormalities in the treated groups compared to the control. T2 and T3 had more accumulations of normal spermatids in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Mature spermatids significantly (P< 0.05) increased with dosage, 138/tubule in T1, 148 and 152 spermatids per tubule in T2 and T3 respectively. It was concluded that supplementing the diet of breeder rabbit bucks with ginger powder at 10g/kg and 20g/kg levels will improve libido and semen quality without adverse effects on the viscerals and testes.
