EFFECTS OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF KIGELIA AFRICANA FRUIT AND LEAF MEALS ON LIBIDO AND FERTILITY INDICES IN RABBITS

Sexual performance is essential for reproductive efficiency in animal production because it influences mating behaviour, hormone secretion, conception rate, and overall herd productivity. A 12-week feeding trial was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm to evaluate the effects of dietary Kigelia africana leaf and fruit meals on libido and fertility indices of rabbits. A total of 108 rabbits (70 days old), comprising males and females in a 2:1 ratio, were randomly allotted to nine treatments (12 rabbits per treatment) in a 2 × 4 + 1 factorial arrangement. The first factor was plant part (leaf or fruit),while the second factor was inclusion level (5, 10, 15, and 20%). The eight factorial combinations were compared with a basal diet without Kigelia as a control. Plant part had no significant effect on the reproductive hormones measured; however, inclusion level significantly (p<0.05) increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone in bucks, particularly at 20%. Does feeding fruit meal show higher FSH than those fed leaf meal? Libido improved with Kigelia supplementation, as reaction time was shorter in bucks fed fruit meal (15.65 s) and decreased significantly with increasing inclusion level. The control group recorded the longest reaction time (37.25 s), while 20% inclusion produced one of the shortest values (17.50 s). Conception rate was significantly (p<0.05)influenced by inclusion level, with 15% and 20% diets achieving 100% conception. Does fed fruit meal had higher litter size (6.68), and litter size increased with higher inclusion levels, reaching 7.81 at the upper levels. Overall, dietary K. africana improved libido and fertility in rabbits, with fruit meal producing superior results compared with leaf meal. Higher inclusion levels (15–20%) enhanced reproductive hormones, reduced reaction time, increased conception rate, and improved litter size, indicating better reproductive performance. KEYWORDS: Fertility, Libido, Rabbit, Hormone, Kigelia africana