Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 6, No. 1, 2024
Pages 123-130
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/4202.60.0121
Evaluation of Probiotics (Saccharomyces Boulardii and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) on Reproductive Performance and Testicular Morphometry of Rabbit.
1Sanusi Ahmed, 2Iyabode Comfort Alemede, 2Adama John Yisa & 2Abdulkadir Usman
1Department of Animal Health & Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Airport Road, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja. Nigeria.
2Department of Animal Production, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M. B. 65, Minna – Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on reproductive performance and testicular morphometry of rabbit. A total of 45 rabbit (30 females & 15 males) were divided into 5 treatments groups (T , T T T and T ) with each treatments 1 2, 3, 4 5 having 3 replicates and 3 rabbits per replicates. T (control) had no probiotics at all, while Saccharomyces 1 boulardii was administered orally on the rabbit weekly at 80 x 106 cfu/ml, 60 x 106 cfu/ml, 40 x 106 cfu/ml, and 20 x 106 cfu/ml forT , T , T , and T respectively using a serial dilution method to determine the dose. The 2 3 4 5 Saccharomyces cerevisiae was added to the feed at 0.2g/kg (2 x 108 cfu/ml), 0.4g/kg (4 x108 cfu/ml), 0.6g/kg (6 x 108 cfu/ml), and 0.8g/kg (8 x 108 cfu/ml), of feed for T , T , T and T treatment groups respectively. Natural 2 3 4 5 mating was performed. The result revealed that the reproductive traits (doe traits and birth and weaningb traits) were not significantly (P>0.05) different between the treatment groups. The findings from testicular morphometry also indicated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the treatment groups. This research confirms that the use of probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) may not negatively impact the reproductive capabilities of rabbits, and it may be safe to administer these probiotics to rabbits.
Keywords: Rabbit, Probiotics, Reproductive Performance, Testicular Morphometry