DOSE RESPONSE EFFECT OF PERCENTAGE NEEM LEAF MEAL INCLUSION LEVEL  ON SPERMATOGENESIS IN RABBITS

I. P. Ogbuewu; E. U.  Ahiwe; T. C.  Iwuji; N. O. Aladi; I. F. Etuk; I. C. Okoli; M. U. Iloeje

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.4558

Authors

I. P. Ogbuewu Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
E. U. Ahiwe Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
T. C. Iwuji Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
N. O. Aladi Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
I. F. Etuk Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
I. C. Okoli Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
M. U. Iloeje Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4558

Keywords:

Rabbits, neem leaf, sperm production, dose response, quadratic equation

Abstract

A total of 36 crossbred male rabbits aged 7-8 months were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments designated as T0 (0 %), T1 (5%), T2 (10%) and T3 (15%) of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal (NLM) levels with three replications, each having three rabbits for 16 weeks. Semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, total sperm production, abnormal sperm percent and reaction time were assessed at week 4, and thereafter at weeks 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16. Duncan’s test for multiple comparisons was used to test the significant difference between treatment means (p < 0.05). A quadratic equation was used to determine dietary NLM inclusion levels for optimum parameters which were significantly different. NLM inclusion level of 0.71% supported optimum sperm concentration (p = 0.02). This was higher than the levels of 0.24% and 0.69% that supported optimum sperm motility (p = 0.01) and total sperm concentration (p = 0.01), respectively in in male rabbits. On the other hand, NLM level of 0.85% gave the least abnormal sperm percent (p = 0.01). It is concluded that dietary NLM inclusion levels of 0.24 - 0.85% supported spermatogenesis in male rabbits. Thus, optimizing the NLM inclusion level in the diet of male rabbits could help enhance their reproductive efficiency.