Hormonal profile and reproductive performance of male and female rabbits fed diets containing garlic bulb (Allium sativum) meal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with 24 buck and 24 doe rabbits of about 5-8 months. The animals were fed diets containing garlic flour meal to determine the effect on the hormonal profile and reproductive performance of the rabbits. The 48 rabbits were separated according to their sexes (buck and doe) and divided into four treatment groups with four rabbits consequently replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Dietary levels of 0.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0% of garlic flour meal were used to formulate the diet for rabbits. At the end of this trial, different parameters on hormonal profile and reproductive performance were determined. All the parameters of hormonal profile were significantly P<0.05) different thereby maintaining similar values except luteinizing hormone which had slight value fluctuation. The highest value of testosterone and progesterone were recorded in the diet containing 15.0% garlic flour meal. Similarly, the parameters on reproductive performance exhibited significant (P<0.05) difference. Partum weight and litter weight at birth showed a higher value as garlic meal was increased. The results of this study indicated that 15.0% dietary level of garlic flour meal proved acceptable for hormonal profile and reproductive performance of rabbit.