Testosterone level and mating capability of male rabbit fed commercial feed substituted with moringa oleifera leaf meal

Abstract

Rabbit is an alternative livestock that have a chance of being the source of healthy and high quality animal protein. One way to improve the productivity of rabbit meat is to improve the quality of male rabbits. Moringa leaves have androgenic effects by increasing testosterone, increasing blood flow to the male reproductive organs and stimulating the central nervous system to increase libido. The aims of this study were to find out the effects of moringa leaf meal substitution in commercial feed on the testosterone levels and mating capability of male rabbits. Twenty four of four months old male rabbits with an average live weight of 1200g were used in this study. There were four treatments in this study including 0% (K0) as control and 15% (K1), 30% (K2), 45% (K3) substitution of moringa leaf meal in commercial feed and each treatment consisted of six replicates. The treatments were carried out for two months. The variables measured were mating capability and testosterone levels in the blood. The results showed that there were significant differences (P <0.05) between all treatments (K1, K2, K3) and the control (K0). Substitution of commercial feed with moringa leaf meal in this study was able to increase the testosterone levels in the blood and mating capability of male rabbits. It was concluded that the moringa leaf meal able to substitute the commercial feed up to 45 % to improve the testosterone levels in the blood and mating capability of male rabbits. To get maximum the testosterone levels in the blood and mating capability of male rabbits it should be better substituted the commercial feed with moringa leaf meal as much as 35.07%