The effect of dietary doum supplementation on- productive and reproductive performance of male rabbits in Upper Egypt

Abstract

The objective of this work was conducted to study the effect of Doum (Hyphaenethebaica) supplementation on productive and reproductive performance of rabbit bucks in Upper Egypt during spring season. Thirty- two males16 California (CAL) and 16 Newzland (NEZ) rabbits 8 months old with average initial body weight 3.409±0.05 kg were randomly divided into four groups of 4 bucks each/breed (CAL and NEZ). Group 1 served as control fed a basal diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 fed basal diets supplemented with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 g doum/kg diets, respectively for 12 weeks. The results revealed that doum supplementation significantly (p≤0.01) increased bucks live body weight compared with control group. Ejaculate volume, mass motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motile sperms, live normal sperm, total functional sperm fraction and initial fructose were significantly increased, while reaction time significantly decreased in rabbit bucks received doum compared to control group. Administration of doum increased (P < 0.05) seminal plasma total proteins, globulins, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. Conversely, seminal plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Seminal plasma lipid peroxidation as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was significantly decreased while, seminal plasma antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased due to doum supplementation Also, doum supplementation significant increased serum testosterone level .In conclusion, doum supplementation improved semen quality, and seminal plasma antioxidant status of rabbit bucks. Thus, the doum could help to improve productive and reproductive efficiency of rabbit bucks under Upper Egypt condition.