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Oxidative stress is an exclusive biochemical complication affecting reproduction; hence, dietary antioxidant supplementation for its attenuation is a required nutrition – reproduction improvement strategy. On this background, Chlorella vulgaris (a natural antioxidant) was supplemented to grower female rabbits to maturity. The rabbits were thirty-five in number randomly distributed into five experimental groups in a completely randomized design. Control group was fed only basal feed while treatment groups were fed diets containing 40 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 % Chlorella vulgaris biomass as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively at 500 mg per animal body weight (kg) along with the basal feed daily. Performance records were obtained, blood was collected, and at the end uterus, ovaries and liver were removed from sacrificed animals for analysis. Serum, uterus and liver oxidative stress status were determined while RNA isolated from liver and ovaries samples were used for antioxidant genes expression analysis. Oxidative stress status and antioxidant enzymes activities were determined using chemical assays while antioxidant gene expression levels were determined using real-time quantitative PCR system. There was significant difference in feed intake (p < 0.014), final body weights (p < 0.008), empty carcass weights (p < 0.001) and commercial carcass weights (p < 0.001) of the rabbits as results of the microalgae supplementation. There was also significant difference in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (p < 0.050), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p < 0.050) and protein carbonyl (PCO) concentrations (p < 0.050) due to the supplementation of the microalgae; in addition, supplementation of the microalgae significantly improved activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.050), catalase (CAT) (p < 0.050) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration (p < 0.050). Furthermore, there was significant difference in relative expression of primary antioxidant genes sod1 (p < 0.050) and gpx1 (p < 0.050); however, there was no significant difference in relative expression of bre (p > 0.050) and ucp1 (p > 0.050). The study concluded from the outcomes stated above that supplementation of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris improved performances of rabbits through attenuation of oxidative stress, enhancement of antioxidant enzymes activities as well as up-regulation of primary antioxidant genes. Hence, it was recommended as dietary supplement for protection against oxidative stress and improved productivity in rabbits and other food producing mammalian species. In addition, further studies into assessment of its effects on expression of transcripts and immune modulation genes in rabbits and other animals is warranted as future studies in order to established its potential as beneficial nutraceutical for animals and human.

Background: Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is a natural source of functional antioxidants capable of protecting against oxidative stress; its dietary supplementation in animals can serve as a way of improving animals' performance and productive output; on this background, the microalgae was supplemented to growing New Zealand white rabbits and its effects on performances and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Method: Thirty-five (35) 6-week-old New Zealand White rabbits (935.48 ± 5.92 g) were divided into five groups (n = 7 per group) in a completely randomized design experiment; rabbits in control groups were fed only commercial rabbits feed, while rabbits in treatment groups were supplemented with 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg Chlorella vulgaris biomass per kilogram of the body weight along with commercial rabbits feed daily. Feed intake and body weight changes were recorded daily and weekly; at the end of the study, blood was collected and subjected to chemical assays for evaluation of serum oxidative stress markers and antioxidant activities. Results: Dietary supplementation of the microalgae significantly increased the rabbits' growth weights (p < 0.01) without significant increase or reduction in feed intakes (p < 0.56), but significantly enhanced feed to gain ratio. The microalgae supplementation significantly protected the rabbits against oxidative stress damages through the reduction of malondialdehyde concentrations (p < 0.001) and increased total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.003). It also led to higher superoxide dismutase activity (p < 0.001), increased catalase activity (p < 0.003), and higher concentration of reduced glutathione (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded from outcomes of both performance and biochemical analysis of the rabbits that daily supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris between 200 and 500 mg per kilogram of the body weight in prepubertal rabbits significantly improved performances in forms of higher weight gains and enhanced feed utilization; it also protected against oxidative stress damages hence it was recommended as dietary antioxidant supplement for growing prepubertal rabbits.

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Oxidative stress negatively affects animals during gestation period and this condition is almost inevitable in the Tropics because of temperature elevation; therefore, objective of this study was evaluation of antioxidant effects of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation in pregnant rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (40) were randomly distributed into five groups (n = 8) on day 0 of their gestation and were supplemented with 0, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg Chlorella vulgaris biomass per kg body weight respectively throughout the gestation period. Blood was collected from the animals in the last week of gestation for serum oxidative stress and biochemical profile assessments. There was significant difference in serum malondialdehyde concentration, total antioxidant capacity but protein carbonyl content was not significantly different. There was also significant difference in superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity and glutathione concentration. Furthermore, the results showed that serum biochemical profiles of the rabbits were within the normal ranges for healthy rabbits. The study therefore concluded that supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris significantly protects the rabbits against oxidative stress damage and has no deleterious effects on their organs function; hence, the microalga was recommended as an antioxidant supplement for pregnant rabbits.

One hundred and thirty rabbits were used to evaluate the effect of genotype, gestation length, season, parity and sex on growth traits of two breeds of rabbit and their crosses. The rabbit used for the experiment were breeds of the New Zealand White (NZW) and Chinchilla (CH) breed. Six breeding bucks (three/breed) and eighteen breeding does (nine/breed) served as the foundation stock. Traits measured include: body weight (BW), nose to shoulder length (NTS), shoulder to tail length (STL), heart girth (HG), trunk length (TL) and length of ear (LE). Results revealed that, BW of the rabbits were influenced (p<0.05) by genotype, gestation length and season. CH x (CH x NZW) progenies had better BW at 35-d and 49-d of age while NZW x CH progenies had better BW at 21-d of age. Kittens born late (32-34 days) had better BW at 21-d, 35-d and 49-d while kittens kindled during early dry season had better BW at 21-d, 35-d and 49-d. Genotype affected (p<0.05) all the body measurements at 21-d, 35-d and 49-d. Gestation length affected (p<0.05) all the body measurements except for NTS at 21-d and HG at 49-d respectively. Season of birth also influenced (p<0.05) all the body measurements except for LE 21-d. Parity and sex had no effect (p>0.05) on BW, NTS, STL, HG, TL and LE. It was concluded that genotype, gestation length and season influenced BW and body dimensions of the two breeds of rabbit and their crosses while parity and sex had no effect.

Blood was sampled from 76 Red Sokoto (RS) goats and 76 Yankasa Sheep (YS) to evaluate Haemoglobin (Hb) genotypes and their effect on body weight and some reproductive parameters of the animals. The blood samples were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The electrophoretic test revealed the presence of three co-dominant alleles (A, B and C) which produced four haemoglobin genotypes (AA, AB, BB andBC) in RS goats, and two codominantalleles (AandB) which gave rise to two haemoglobin genotypes (AA and AB) in YS. The frequencies of alleles A, B and C were 0.32, 0.61 and 0.07 in RS goats; and 0.945 and 0.055 for alleles A and B in YS. The estimated heterozygosities were 0.406 and 0.118 in RS goats and YS while the estimated inbreeding coefficients were 0.009 and 0.008 in the RS goats and YS, respectively. The observed and expected genotype frequencies deviated significantly from the expected Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P 0.05;chi-square=7.82for RS goats, P 0.01;chi-square = 13.13 for YS).There were significant (P<0.05) differences observed in the body weight of male YS as a result of the Hb type; individuals with Hb AB were observed to have higher body weight (44.00 kg) compared to those with Hb AA (22.83 kg).No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed however in the body weight of RS goats. Male YS with Hb AB had longer (P 0.05) scrotum (26.00 kg) and wider scrotal circumference (33.00 kg) compared to those with Hb AA (18.83kg;25.67kg,respectively). No significant (P>0.05) difference was however observed in there productive parameters of RS goats. It was concluded that polymorphism exist at the Hb locus in the YS and RS goats sampled in Beji and this had an influence on body weight and the reproductive parameters evaluated particularly in the sheep. More heterozygotes were also observed in the population studied there by leading to alow rate of in breeding coefficient in the animals.