This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral administration of rabbit bucks with Egyptian propolis at levels of 0.5 and 1 g/h/d for 6 weeks on live body weight, hematological and some biochemical parameters, semen quality and sperm count, and initial fructose concentration in seminal plasma, during summer months in Egypt. Total of 15 New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit bucks at 4.5 months of age and 2.27 kg live body weight were randomly divided into three similar groups, 5 bucks in each. Bucks received commercial pelleted diet (18% CP and 12.6% CF) and treated with propolis in an oral dose of 0 (G1), 0.5 g/h/d (G2) and 1 g/h/d (G3) for six weeks as a treatment period, then semen was collected for another 6 weeks (twice/week) as a semen collection period. Blood samples were collected to analyze blood parameters.
Results showed no significant effect of propolis on LBW of bucks during treatment period. Oral administration of propolis at a level of 0.5 g/h/d for 6 wk (G2) increased (P<0.05) count of red blood cells and platelets concentration of blood plasma hemoglobin, total proteins, albumin, globulin and testosterone, while decreased (P<0.05) count of white blood cells as compared to controls (G1). Albumin/globulin ratio in blood of rabbit bucks was not affected by propolis administration. Semen volume, and percentages of mass motility, sperm progressive motility and livability as well as sperm cell concentration increased (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1, being the highest in G2. Sperm abnormality was not affected by propolis treatment.Sperm cell production as total, live, motile and normal outputs was the highest in G2, moderate in G3 and the lowest in G1 (P<0.05). Concentration of initial fructose in the seminal plasma increased (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1, respectively.
In conclusion, oral administration of propolis at a level of 0.5 g/h/d for six weeks could be as a useful treatment for improving semen quality and enhancing production of live, normal and motile spermatozoa with good health status and body weight of rabbit bucks.