Lactation stimulating and growth promoting effects of Aspilia africana fed to rabbit does

Thirty four (30 does and 4 bucks) nulliparous Dutch breed rabbits were used to investigate the effects of Aspilia africana on lactation and growth performance. Ten (10) rabbit does were allocated to three (3) treatments which consisted of mixed forages ( Centrosema pubescens : 200 g, Ipomea batatas leaves: 200 g and Panicum maximum : 100 g) without A. africana (T 1 : control), 500 g of fresh A. africana (T 2 ) and 500 g of wilted A. africana (T 3 ) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) trial. 300 g of the same concentrate diet which contained 2620 kcal/kg metabolizable energy and 18.0% crude protein, was fed to the rabbits in all the treatments groups from the commencement to the end of the experiment. The four (4) bucks used in serving or mating the does were fed the control diet throughout the study. Fresh and wilted Aspilia africana were introduced in T 2 and T 3 after the does have kindled. Weekly milk yield was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by treatment with T2 having the highest (75.63, 117.19, 299.06 and 311.56), T 3 values, 59.38, 112.50, 249.43 and 270.31 and T1 (control) values were 39.75, 60.50, 180.50 and 108.10 for weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Similarly, the weekly body weight gain of does during lactation showed significant ( P < 0.05) differences from weeks 2 to 4 with does in T 2 having the highest values (2.21 kg, 2.33 kg and 3.58 kg), followed by T 3 (1.94 kg, 2.11 kg and 2.89 kg) and the control group T1 had (2.03 kg, 2.09 kg, 2.14 kg) for weeks 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The results indicated that feeding of fresh Aspilia africana leaves to does supported optimal lactation and growth.