Valuation of Synedrella nodiflora leaves in rabbit feeding as feed supplement: impact on reproductive performance

soils (although it is favoured by high organic content
and good fertility), and, because <strong>of</strong> its very short life
cycle, can tolerate most forms <strong>of</strong> cultivation. Whilst
able to grow <strong>in</strong> full sunlight, this species prefers light
or broken shade.
Animal management
The current study w<strong>as</strong> carried out on 96 <strong>rabbit</strong>s
divided <strong>in</strong>to 4 lots <strong>of</strong> 24 <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g 20 primiparous
females and 4 males and subjected to different dietary
treatments. Animals were reared <strong>in</strong> cages dur<strong>in</strong>g the
trial. These cages were placed <strong>in</strong> naturally ventilated
build<strong>in</strong>gs and illum<strong>in</strong>ated by daylight. All the animals
were fed with a complete commercial pellet <strong>feed</strong>
(2677 DE/kg, 18.8% crude prote<strong>in</strong>) produced by the
society "Veto Service Group SA". The amount <strong>of</strong> pellet
<strong>feed</strong>s distributed w<strong>as</strong> <strong>of</strong> 200g per day per animal
before add<strong>in</strong>g,accord<strong>in</strong>g to the experimental lot, the
<strong>feed</strong> <strong>supplement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong><strong>leaves</strong>.In lot
1, only the female <strong>rabbit</strong>s had received <strong>feed</strong>
<strong>supplement</strong> made <strong>of</strong> 100g <strong>of</strong> fresh
<strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong>. In lot 2, both males and
females were all fed with <strong>feed</strong> <strong>supplement</strong> made <strong>of</strong>
100g <strong>of</strong> fresh <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong>. In lot 3,
only the males were fed with <strong>feed</strong> <strong>supplement</strong> made
<strong>of</strong> 100g <strong>of</strong> fresh <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong>., while <strong>in</strong>
lot 4 (control group) neither males nor females were
fed with <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong>.This <strong>leaves</strong> <strong>of</strong> S.
<strong>nodiflora</strong> were used <strong>in</strong> the experimental group from
the wean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the first kidd<strong>in</strong>g litter to the second
kidd<strong>in</strong>g. Water w<strong>as</strong> supplied ad libitum.
The mat<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>as</strong> carried out by natural <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation
by us<strong>in</strong>g the reproductive male. The fertility w<strong>as</strong>
determ<strong>in</strong>ed by palpation. After kidd<strong>in</strong>g, does and
their bunnies were housed together up to wean<strong>in</strong>g.
Health monitor<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>as</strong> b<strong>as</strong>ed on the use <strong>of</strong> <strong>as</strong>eptic
foot baths at the entrance <strong>of</strong> each farm build<strong>in</strong>gs;
vitam<strong>in</strong> and antibiotics drench<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>as</strong> used to
prevent dise<strong>as</strong>e. Preventive treatment aga<strong>in</strong>st
coccidiosisw<strong>as</strong> also done. A standard prophylactic
endopar<strong>as</strong>itic and ectopar<strong>as</strong>itic control schedule w<strong>as</strong>
applied. Occ<strong>as</strong>ional dise<strong>as</strong>es were treated specifically
accord<strong>in</strong>g to the cl<strong>in</strong>ical signs detected.
Data collection
Data collection w<strong>as</strong> done from the <strong>in</strong>dividual data
record form <strong>of</strong> each reproductive animal and young
<strong>rabbit</strong> by lot. In total, the study <strong>of</strong> reproductive
parameters w<strong>as</strong> recorded on 80 female <strong>rabbit</strong>s and
the weight growth w<strong>as</strong> evaluated from their young
<strong>rabbit</strong>s. The number <strong>of</strong> females <strong>in</strong> estrus, the number
<strong>of</strong> mated females, the number <strong>of</strong> pregnant females
found after palpation, the number <strong>of</strong> kidd<strong>in</strong>g females,
the number <strong>of</strong> stillborn, the live weight <strong>of</strong> kits at
birth, the live weight <strong>of</strong> kits at the 25 th days old, the
live weight <strong>of</strong> kits at wean<strong>in</strong>g (35 th day post-birth)
were recorded.
Statistical analysis
The variables <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the data analysis were: litter
size at birth and at wean<strong>in</strong>g, the fertility rate, kidd<strong>in</strong>g
rate, the stillbirth rate, the mortality rate from the
birth to the wean<strong>in</strong>g and the weight <strong>of</strong> kits at 25 days
and 35 days post-birth. These data were analyzed
us<strong>in</strong>g the SAS (Statistical Analysis System, 2006)
s<strong>of</strong>tware. Proc GLM procedure w<strong>as</strong> used for variance
analysis. The F test w<strong>as</strong> used to evaluate the effect <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong> on the different growth
and reproductive parameters considered.
Comparisons between means were made <strong>in</strong> pairs by
Student t-test.
Results and discussion
Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong> used <strong>as</strong> <strong>feed</strong>
<strong>supplement</strong> <strong>in</strong> the diet <strong>of</strong> <strong>rabbit</strong>s on the litter size and
young <strong>rabbit</strong> growth
The effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong> w<strong>as</strong>
remarkable (P˂0,001) on litter size at birth and at
wean<strong>in</strong>g; the live weight <strong>of</strong> young <strong>rabbit</strong>s at birth, at
25 days and at 35 days post-birth (Table 1). Indeed,
the highest litter size were recorded <strong>in</strong> the lot 1 (8
young <strong>rabbit</strong>s) and lot 2 (7.6 young <strong>rabbit</strong>s), while the
lowest values (P˂0.001) were recorded <strong>in</strong> the control
group (5.3 young <strong>rabbit</strong>s) and lot 3(5.25 young
<strong>rabbit</strong>s). Therefore, <strong>Synedrella</strong><strong>nodiflora</strong> <strong>leaves</strong>
improve significantly the litter size <strong>in</strong> <strong>rabbit</strong> does, and
then can improve pr<strong>of</strong>itability <strong>of</strong> <strong>rabbit</strong> breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>
sub-Saharan Africa. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Aporiet al., (2014),
litter size <strong>in</strong> <strong>rabbit</strong>s is regarded <strong>as</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the most
Benoît et al.
Page 58