EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF DRIED OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS) FRUIT AND LEAVES ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF DOES

Abstract

Okra fruit is highly consumed in Nigeria and had been proposed to be responsible for modulating hormones that are responsible for sterility in males as a result of gossypol or a gossypol-like compound that stimulates infertility. However, there was no information available on the effects of the fruits and leaves on fertility in female goats. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of okra fruits and leaves on the reproductive hormones of West African Dwarf Does. A total of sixteen (16) does with mean body weight of 17.5±5 kg were allotted by weight to four dietary treatments formulated to contain 0 % dried okra fruits and leaves (D), 3 % dried okra leaves (DL), 3% dried okra fruits (DF), and 3 % dried okra fruits and leaves (DLF) in ratio 1:1 for a period of twenty-eight weeks. Does were synchronized using PGF2 alpha injection (Lutalyse®) and then mated using four Kalahari red bucks (one buck per group). Blood samples were collected before synchronization and at the end of each trimester for hormonal analysis and data on performance and reproductive indices taken were subjected to One-Way Analysis of Variance using in a Completely Randomized Design. The results obtained from the study revealed that Does fed DL had significantly highest (p<0.05) estradiol concentration (7.93 pg/mL) in the second trimester while DF (3.69 ng/mL) and DLF (3.63 ng/mL) had highest (p<0.05) progesterone concentration and D (3.16 ng/mL) had lowest progesterone concentration prior to parturition. The study concluded the inclusion of okra fruits with or without the leaves increased progesterone concentration prior to kidding.