NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF GROUNDNUT HAULMS ON TESTICULAR FUNCTIONS AND ONSET OF PUBERTY OF KANO BROWN BUCK KIDS

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of feeding groundnut haulms on onset of puberty and testicular functions of Kano Brown buck (KBB) kids. A total of 30 KBB, aged 3 months old with average initial body weight of 6.05 ±1.57kg were used for the study. Animals were kept in an individual pens under one shed to eliminate any variations attributed to environmental and management changes. A concentrate diet (control) was formulated to contain 13% crude protein and groundnut haulms were supplemented at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/head/day designated as T1, T2, T3 T4 and T5, respectively. Animals on treatment 1 were fed on the control diet (ad libitum) for the whole period of the experiment. Animals on treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were also offered the control diet and supplemented with 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/head/day of sun-dried groundnut haulms, respectively. Result showed that age at puberty decreased significantly (P <
0.05) with increased groundnut haulms supplementation, with animals on T5 (400 g) attained puberty earlier followed by those on T4 (300 g) supplementation. Animals on the control (0 g) attained puberty at a later age. Semen volume, semen colour, normal sperm cells, concentration, motility and scrotal circumference were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in animals on T5 (400 g) supplementation at the onset of puberty. Sperm morphological abnormalities (detached head, narrow head, coil tail and bent tail) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increased groundnut haulms supplementation. It is concluded that feeding groundnut haulms hastened attainment of age at onset of puberty with significant increased in testicular functions of KBB.