Effects of dietary supplementation of ginger, garlic and onion on semen profile, haematological and serum antioxidant status of rabbit bucks raised in the dry season of the humid tropic

Abstract

Purpose:The study evaluated the semen, haematological and antioxidant status of rabbit bucks fed ginger, garlic and onion supplemented diets under a severely heat stressed condition. This is to evaluate the effect of heat stress and spice supplementation on seminal parameters, haematology and antioxidant capacity of rabbit buck raised in the tropics.Research Method: Fifty -five bucks were allotted to 11 treatments comprising of control diet, three each of ginger, garlic and onion at 5g, 10g and 15g/kg feed plus positive control diet. Seminal, haematological and antioxidant traits of the bucks and their pen's Temperature -Humidity index (THI) were observed for 8 weeks.Findings: ) recorded during the study indicated the prevalence of severe to very severe heat stress. Heat stress impacted negatively more on sperm morphology than on other seminal parameters. Sperm cell motility, viability and abnormality were similar within supplemented groups and the controls. Semen volume and concentration were highest in animals fed garlic at 10 and 15g/kg feed respectively. Spice supplementation had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the haematology and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the experimental animals. Originality/value:The study concluded that spice supplementation mitigated heat stress effect on sperm cell morphology and was not deleterious on haematology and TAC of the bucks.

The benefits of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) extract administration for male rabbits affected by environmental heat stress

“…Moreover, HS induces disturbances in blood metabolites and hormone profiles, triggering oxidative stress and decreasing productivity and reproductive efficiency (Abdelnour et al, 2020; Morshedy et al, 2022). Additionally, HS reduces libido and semen quality in buck rabbits (Ajao & Ola, 2022; El‐Desoky et al, 2017; El‐Ratel et al, 2021).…”

“…The inclusion of phytogenic feed additives is currently used for rabbits to enhance growth indices and feed efficiency. This treatment is also intended to boost antioxidant capacity, restore blood metabolism (Abdelnour et al, 2020; Amber et al, 2021), improve hormone profiles, and protect semen quality reduced by exposure to a hot environment (Ajao & Ola, 2022; El‐Desoky et al, 2017; El‐Ratel et al, 2021). Recently, there has been global interest in incorporating nutraceutical herbals with antioxidative capabilities in rabbit diets to counter the negative influences of HS.…”

Ramifications of Heat Stress on Rabbit Production and Role of Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Its Negative Impacts: An Updated Review

“…El-Ratel et al [130] documented that the addition of ginger (200 mg/kg diet) improved the sexual desire (decreased reaction time and increased blood plasma testosterone), semen quality characteristics, fertility, and seminal plasma antioxidative status (increased TAC, GSH, and GST, while MDA was decreased) of rabbit bucks subjected to HS. Similarly, Ajao and Ola [131] showed that dietary ginger (15 g/kg feed) improved the semen quality characteristics (volume, motility, vitality, and abnormality) and serum TAC in rabbit bucks reared in hot, humid tropical conditions. 8.6.3.…”

“…8.6.3. Thyme Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is rich in active substances, including volatile essential oil phenolic acids and flavonoids, granting it several physical benefits, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and anti-mutagenic properties [58,131]. Studies elucidated that the dietary addition of thyme, either as dried leaves (16 g/kg diet) or its essential oil (100 mg/kg feed), improved the appetite, growth performance, carcass parameters, and meat quality characteristics, while reducing the perirenal and scapular fat and meat lipid peroxidation in fattening rabbits under HS conditions [57,132].…”