• Koutinhouin G. Benoît1, Tougan Polycarpe Ulbad1,2*, KpodékonT. Marc1, Boko K. Cyrille1, Goudjihounde Martin1, Aoulou Abel1, Thewis André2

  1. Department of Animal Production and Health, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 2009,Cotonou, Republic of Benin
  2. Animal Sciences Unit, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege,Passage des Deportes, 2-5030,Gembloux, Belgium
The current study aims to evaluate the effect of Synedrellanodiflora leaves used as feed supplement in the diet of rabbits on their reproductive performances. Then, 96 rabbits (80 primiparous females and 16 males)of Common breed were divided into 4 lots and subjected to different dietary treatments. In lot1, only the female rabbits had received Synedrellanodiflora leaves. In lot 2, both males and females were all feed with Synedrellanodiflora. In lot 3, only the males were fed Synedrellanodiflora, while in lot 4 (control group) neither males nor females were fed with Synedrellanodiflora. It appears that the highest litter size (P˂0.001) was recorded in lot 1 and lot 2. At weaning, the highest litter size was recorded in lot 2 (P˂0.001). The live weight at 25 and 35 days old in kits of lots 3 and lot 4 were higher than those recorded in lots 1 and 2 (P˂0.001). The fertility rateof lot 3 was 100% to 80%, 89% and 70% respectively for lot 1, 2 and 4 (P˂0.001). The kidding rate was 100% in lots 1, 2 and 4 to 88% in lot 3. Similarly, the highest stillbirth rate was recorded in lot 3 (P˂0.001). Synedrella nodiflora leaveshad reduced the mortality rate from the birth to the weaning from 14% to 3.4% with the highest rate observed in the control group (P˂0.001).Overall, Synedrellanodiflora leaves using as feed supplement in rabbits improves fertility rate and litter size, and reduces significantly the mortality rate from birth to weaning.

Reference: Volume 5, Number 4, October 2014 – IJAAR

Journal: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)