ABSTRACT
The effect of dietary
supplementation of organic selenium at different levels on reproductive
performance of rabbit does was investigated using 16 (12 does and 4 bucks)
rabbits. The rabbits were of New Zealand white, Dutch and chinchilla breeds.
The twelve rabbit does were randomly assigned to four experimental treatment groups
(T0, T1, T2 and T3) according to
the amount of organic selenium supplementation in a completely randomized
design (CRD). Rabbits in T0 served as the control and received
0.00mg/kg Se supplement diet daily, while those in T1, T2
and T3 were given 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg organic selenium yeast,
respectively. Each rabbit in a treatment was housed in individual cage and
served as replicate. Rabbits in each treatment were mated using four bucks (one
buck per treatment). The parameters measured were: birth weight of the litters,
body weight of the dam after kindling, litter sizes at birth including
stillbirths, conception rate, gestation length, body weight of does during
gestation, litter weight at weaning, litter sizes at weaning and growth rates
of kits. . Haematological parameters and oxidative enzymes were also
determined. Results showed that selenium supplementation in the diets had no
significant (p > 0.05) effect on gestation length, litter size at birth,
number of stillbirth, doe body weights at kindling and litter body weights at
birth. However, selenium supplementation had significant effect (p < 0.05)
on litter size at weaning, litter body weight at weaning and pre – weaning
weight gain of kits during lactation. Doe weight gain during gestation and growth
rate of kits were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among the treatment
groups. Weight gain of kits at weaning was higher in treatment one with only
two kits as the average kits weaned. Litter size at weaning was significantly
higher at treatment 3 (6.50) and for treatment 2 (5.00). The higher values in
number of kits at birth, birth weight of kits and litter size weaned as
recorded in treatment 2 showed the significant role of selenium as an
anti-stress in the diets of the animal. Inclusion levels of selenium had no
significant (p > 0.05) effect on such haematological indices on RBC of
rabbits. However, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) among
treatment group on haematological values of Hb, PVC, Neutrophils and
eosinophils. There was a significant difference (p < 0.0.5) among treatment
groups on follicule stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion, however no difference
was found in LH. Selenium in the diets of rabbit does had no significant effect
(p > 0.05) on such oxidative enzymes like catalase, , selenium and reduced
glutathione. However, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) among
the treatment groups on oxidative enzymes of MDA, SOD and glutathione
peroxidase, glutathione, and glutathione transferase with higher significant (p
< 0.05) effect on SOD. It was therefore concluded that under good
nutritional and other management practices, inclusion of selenium in diets of
rabbit does at 0.30mg/kg feed will increase the number of kits per doe per year
even though best results for weight gain of litters at weaning were obtained
with 0.15mg/kg selenium supplementation in the diet and this will enhance
maximum productive performance, thus maximum/higher economic returns from the enterprise.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
It has been
discovered that inadequate supply of animal protein from traditional livestock:
cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chicken is responsible for the decline in animal
protein consumption in many developing countries of the world. According to FAO
(2006), about 854 million people representing 12.6% of the world population are
severely malnourished. To correct this, Biobaku and Ekpeyong (1991) indicated
that non-traditional meat sources suitable for small scale farmer need to be explored.
Iheukwumere
and Okoli (2002) defined a rabbit as a mini-livestock with high reproductive
potentials. It has a unique ability which serves as a flexible financial
reserve. It has short gestation length, exhibits early maturity, has high prolificacy
and also has the ability to re-breed shortly after parturition. These
attributes lead to short generation interval (Lebas et al., 1997;
Effiong and Wogar, 2007).
Today,
rabbit as a micro-livestock production is part of value chain development in
the present agricultural transformation agenda (ATA). This is because of the
huge potentials of rabbit production in supplying the much needed animal
protein intake. Other such potentials include low capital outlay, good
converter of feed (Biobaku et al., 2002). Furthermore, the
characteristic small body, size, rapid growth and ability to live on forage has
made rabbit production lucrative, especially where production is a very big
business in some parts of Nigeria where the meat is receiving an encouraging
patronage. It is an alternative livestock where trypanosomiasis has posed a
threat to cattle and other livestock production.
Rabbit is a
monogastric and its meat differs from other animals in protein content, (Aduku
and Olukosi, 1990). The meat also contains low cholesterol, fewer calories and
a low percentage of fats compared to beef, pork, chicken or lambs, (Aduku and
Olukosi, 1990). Janieri (1987) reported that this attributes of low cholesterol
value makes it a life saving animal protein source for people with high blood
pressure. The meat is also tender and juicy, an attribute that makes it
suitable for all categories of ages both young and old.
Apart from being a good source of white meat which is
“pearly white”, rabbit can be used for heart patients, provides wool (fur),
skins, manure and toys. It is the only farm animal which produces meat at 10 to
15 times or more of its weights in a year through progenies. Being such
multiplier, it is expected to ease the demand of pressure in chicken and mutton
(Banergee, 1998).
Rabbit has
been observed to excel other livestock: cattle, sheep and goats, but ranks
close to chicken in respect of growth rate, feed conversion efficiency (FCE)
and meat quality. Of all the livestock species, rabbit is most efficient
converter of feed to flesh (Agunbiade et al., 2001). One kilogram of
rabbit meat only requires one quarter of the fed energy required to produce an
equivalent quantity of lamb or beef and only 70 percent of the feed to produce
the same amount of pork (Lebas and Matheron, 1982). Rabbit production is an
ideal enterprise for young people because it requires limited capital
investment for housing and equipment. A breeder with a pair of rabbit can
produce 60 – 80 rabbits each year to sell or eat (Elmer, 1990).
The optimum
exploitation of rabbit prolificacy and performance can be achieved through
proper feeding (Iheukwumere et al., 2005), while poor nutrition will
delay sexual maturity in rabbits, resulting in low financial return to the
farmer (Asuquo, 1993). This suggests that increased feed and nutrient level be
given to breeding rabbits as a means of increasing litter size, adequate
maintenance of pregnancy and subsequent milk let down by the doe (Lebas, 1983;
Effiong and Wogar, 2007). Also, dietary supplements such as selenium with
intent to maintain healthy systems and support recovery and healing are
necessary for better performance of the rabbit.
Selenium,
essential trace mineral is necessary to maintain good health of animals but is
required only in small amounts. Selenium (Se) has good properties in improving
fertility parameters especially in females. They are antioxidants and have
protective and preservative characteristics (Orffa, 2010). Hence, this serves
as dietary supplements of breeding does for higher productive performance.
1.2 Objectives
of the Study
The
objective of the research was to determine the effect of organic selenium on
the reproductive performance of rabbit does.
The
specific objectives of the study were:
i.
To evaluate the effects of different
levels of organic selenium supplementation in the diet on the reproductive
performance of rabbits.
ii.
To determine the effect of dietary
selenium supplementation on the pre-weaning growth rate of kits.
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Item Type: Postgraduate Material | Attribute: 46 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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