Growth and Reproductive Performances of Rabbit Does Fed Aspilia africana Leaves in Combination with Other Forages

NseAbasi NsikakAbasi ETIM, Uduak ANIEFIOK, Ikwo Ibanga WILLIE
2020 Zenodo  
This study investigated if combining Aspilia africana with other forages will promote growth without deleterious effect on fertility and reproduction. Eighteen pubertal rabbit does were used for the experiment in Completely Randomized Design of 3 treatment groups, with 6 does per group. Rabbits in each treatment group were fed same concentrate diet (70g/doe/day) and 300g of forages daily, throughout the study. The treatments consisted of (Calopogonium mucunoides (150g) and Ipomea batatas (150g)
more » ... without Aspilia africana) (T1; control), Calopogonium mucunoides (100g) Ipomea batatas (100g) and Aspilia africana (100g) (T2) and Calopogonium mucunoides (50g), Ipomea batatas leaves (50g) and Aspilia africana (200g) (T3). Results revealed significant differences (P<0.05) among the various treatment groups in feed intake. Does in the control group (T1) had the highest feed intake (216g), followed by T2 (148g) while T3 had the lowest feed intake (143g). Various bodyweight parameters, progesterone concentrations and weight of ovaries of does in all the treatment groups were statistically (P>0.05) similar. It was observed that feeding Aspilia africana with other feed could still yield optimum growth without negatively affecting fertility and reproduction.
doi:10.5281/zenodo.3837672 fatcat:zjuxtaktdjcftdwrdemtiy5vdq