Abstract:
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the addition of ginger
rhizome powder (GRP) to the rabbit bucks ration on semen quality and semen plasma traits.
A total of 28 male New Zealand rabbits (7- month- old), divided into four groups; the first
treatment served as a control (Con; 0% ginger); the second, third, and fourth treatments were
supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% ginger powder in the diet, respectively. The results
revealed no change in ejaculate volume, a significant increase in the mass sperm motility,
sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motile sperm, live sperm, and Total functional
sperm fraction. Dietary ginger reduced the reaction time, semen pH, and the percentage of
abnormal sperm. Bucks that received 1.0% or 1.5% dietary ginger had a higher seminal
plasma total proteins, albumin, globulin concentrations, alkaline phosphatase and acid
phosphatase activities. Conversely, seminal plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine
aminotransferase activities were significantly decreased compared to the control group.
Practically, it can be concluded that ginger is a suitable supplement for improving semen
quality and semen plasma in adult male rabbits.
