Impact Of Feeding Karkade (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) Seeds On Semen Charactaristic Of Sudanese Desert Rams
Impact Of Feeding Karkade (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) Seeds On Semen Charactaristic Of Sudanese Desert Rams
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Date
2015-04-05
Authors
Mukhtar, Hatim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
UOFK
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of feeding
karkade (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seeds on ram's semen characteristic.
Nine rams of the Sudanese desert sheep with similar body weight
were used for a period of six weeks. The animals were distributed
randomly into three groups. Three iso-caloric iso- nitrogenous diets
were formulated including three levels of karkade seeds 0, 15 and
25%. The parameters measured were semen volume, mass activity,
percentage of dead spermatozoa, percentage of morphologically
abnormal sperms, concentration of spermatozoa, testis length, scrotal
circumference and live body weight. The analysis showed a
significant (P<0.05) effect of treatment on the volume of ejaculate.
The two groups that received 15 and 25% gave lower volume
throughout the experimental period when compared to the control.
However there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the
treatments throughout the experimental weeks in either the mass
activity or percentage of dead spermatozoa, while there was a
significant difference due to treatment in the percentage of abnormal
spermatozoa. The 25% group scored a higher value of abnormal
spermatozoa than the other two groups which are similar throughout
the six weeks of experiment. The abnormalities tended to increase in
the two groups that received karkade seeds compared to the control
group. At the same time the concentration of spermatozoa per ml
varied significantly (P< 0.05) between the treatments. The 25%
karkade seeds showed the lowest sperms concentration compared to
the other two groups. Sperm concentration also varied significantly
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(P< 0.05) between the weeks. at 25% group recorded the lowest
concentration among the three studied group group.
The study also indicated significant differences between the
treatments in the length of the tests. The two groups of 15 and 25%
had the lowest tests length compared to the control group. In addition
to this, there was significant difference among the treatment in the
scrotal circumference which is found to be lower in the 15 and 25%
karkade seeds groups compared to the control. There was no
significant variations indicated among the treatments in the live
bodyweight.
The study concluded that, the use of karkade (Hibiscus
sabdariffa) seeds in the rations of the rams has an adverse effect on
semen characteristics that might have resulted from presence of
phytoestrogens in the Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds.