Assessment of semen characteristics of rabbit bucks administered hydro-alcoholic extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruit

Abstract

The semen characteristics of 24 rabbit bucks of age 28-32 weeks weighing between 1.0-1.5kg was assessed after the administration of hydroalcoholic extract of phoenix dactylifera (date palm) fruit. Phoenix dactylifera hydroalcoholic extract (HAEPD) was administered to four treatment groups at varied levels having T1 (no extract), T2 (300mg), T3 (600mg) and T4 (900mg) in a completely randomized design. The following semen parameters were assessed in the bucks after the administration of HAEDP for 56 days (i.e volume (mL), massal motility (%), individual motility (%), viability (%), morphology (%), libido (sec), liquefaction (min) and semen pH). The results obtained showed that semen volume (mL) was highest at 600mg dose of the extract (77mL) being significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatment groups between which were not different from each other. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed across treatment groups for mass motility (%). Individual motility of T3 (600mg) and T4 (900mg) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1(0mg) and T2(300mg). Sperm viability (%) and concentration (x106/ml) were higher in treatment groups receiving date palm extract compared to the control. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in morphology (%) and liquefaction (min). reaction time (sec) was lower in T3 and T4 compared to control and T2. PH ranged between 6.10-6.33 (slightly acidic) across treatment groups. In conclusion, date palm extract positively influenced sperm volume and sperm concentration in rabbit bucks.