This study was designed to examine the effects of dietary energy levels on some growth and reproductive parameters of local barred chickens in Cameroon. For this purpose, One hundred and forty four day-old barred male chicks, weighing 28.33 g in average were randomly divided into 12 groups of 12 chicks each. Three feeding programs (FP) comprising each a starter diet from day old to 12 weeks (S0: 2800 Kcal/Kg; S1: 2900 Kcal/Kg; S2: 3000 Kcal/Kg) and grower diet from 13 to 20 weeks (G0: 2900 Kcal/Kg; G1: 3000 Kcal/ Kg; G2: 3100 Kcal/Kg) were used and designated FP1, FP2 and FP3 respectively. Each of the FP was randomly allotted of 4 groups of 12 birds in a completely randomized design. Throughout experiment (1 day old to 20 weeks), body weight was recovered every 2 weeks. At 20 weeks of age, roosters were sacrificed; semen characteristic was analyzed and testes were characterized. Between 2 to 10 weeks old, body weight of cocks fed with FP3 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to others FP. Inversely, from 12 to 20 weeks, body weight of cocks receiving FP1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of cocks receiving feeding programs 2 and 3. At 20 weeks, 100% of cocks fed on FP3 produced semen versus 66.66% and 16.66% respectively for those on FP1 and FP2. Semen volume and mass motility of cocks fed on FP3 or FP1 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than FP2. It was concluded that FP1 had more suitable dietary energy levels for growth and reproduction of local barred cocks.

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of dietary energy level on the growth performance and morphometric characteristics of local barred chicks. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Three hundred and twenty day-old barred chicks were assigned to four different dietary treatments, having four replicates of 20 chicks each. Treatments consisted of D0, D1, D2 and D3 containing 2700, 2800, 2900 and 3000 kcal/kg of metabolisable energy respectively. The highest BW (868 g) and BWG (830 g) were recorded with treatment D1 and D3 (844 g and 804 g respectively). These values were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to D0 and D2. The feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) higher with treatments D0 and D2 as compared to treatments D1 and D3. Feed cost per kg of body weight was significantly (P<0.05) lower for treatment D1 as compared to other treatments. Thus, metabolisable energy requirement of local barred chicks between 1 to 12 weeks is 2800 kcal/kg.

RESUMEObjectif : L'objectif de la présente étude a été de rechercher les effets de l'Amprolin-300, un anticoccidien largement utilisé en médecine vétérinaire, sur quelques paramètres de croissance et de reproduction chez le lapin mâle de race locale. Méthodologie et résultats : Vingt-quatre (24) lapins âgés de 5 mois environ et pesant entre 2,01 et 2,78 kg ont été répartis en 4 lots comparables de 6 lapins chacun. Ils ont été traités pendant 60 jours avec différentes doses d'Amprolin-300 ws via l'eau de boisson : 0 ; 30 ; 60 et 110 mg/kg de poids corporel. Les résultats obtenus ont révélé que la consommation d'eau a significativement (p<0,05) diminué chez les lapins traités aux doses 60 et 110 mg/kg de poids corporel par rapport aux témoins. Le gain de poids et le gain moyen quotidien ont diminué de manière significative (p<0,05) chez les animaux traités aux doses 30 et 60 mg/kg de poids corporel par rapport aux animaux du lot témoin. Par contre, l'indice de consommation a diminué de façon significative (p<0,05) chez les animaux témoins et chez ceux qui ont ingéré la plus forte dose d'Amprolin-300 ws (110 mg/kg de poids corporel) comparé aux lapins traités avec les doses 30 et 60 mg/kg respectivement. Le pH de la semence a significativement (p<0,05) augmenté chez les mâles traités aux doses 30 et 60 mg/kg de poids corporel par rapport Aux mâles du lot témoin. La motilité individuelle et la concentration des spermatozoïdes ont diminué de manière significative (p<0,05) chez les lapins qui ont ingéré la plus forte dose d'anticoccidien par rapport aux lapins témoins. Conclusion et application des résultats : Ainsi, à la dose de 110 mg/kg de poids corporel, l'Amprolin-300 ws a réduit la consommation alimentaire, le gain de poids, le gain moyen quotidien, le poids spécifique et le pH de la semence. Cette dose a également inhibé la spermatogenèse et réduit le pourcentage de spermatozoïdes mobiles. Son usage devrait donc être règlementé. Mots clés : Amprolin-300 ws, lapin mâle, production et fertilité. 6789ABSTRACT Objective: In this study, the effects of Amprolin-300 ws, an anticoccidiostat abundantly used in veterinary medicine, on some growth and reproductive parameters in male rabbits were investigated. Methodology and results: Twenty four (24) rabbits aged 5 months and weighing between 2.01 and 2.78 kg were divided into 4 comparable groups of six rabbits each and treated for 60 days with different doses of Amprolin-300 ws from drinking water: 0, 30, 60 and 110 g/kg of body weight. The results showed that water consumption was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in rabbits treated with 60 and 110 mg/kg of body weight of Amprolin-300 compared to control rabbits. Body weight gain and average daily gain decreased significantly (p<0.05) in animals treated with 30 and 60 mg/kg of body weight compared to control rabbits. On the other hand, feed efficiency decreased significantly (p<0.05) in control animals and those who ingested the highest dose (110 mg/kg of body weight) compared to rabbits treated with 30 and 60 mg/kg of ...