Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies
Chigozie, A., Valaentina, E., Godwin, C., Ikenna, U., Emmanuel, U., Ephraim, I., Winifred, A., Chukwudi, A., Chekwube, U., Chigozirim, O., Prosper, C., Chukwuemelie, N., Ifeanyichukwu, O., Harriet, N., Samuel, M. (2025). Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies. EKB Journal Management System, (), 1-6. doi: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.405267.2995
Amaefule Bright Chigozie; Emmanuel Valaentina; Chukwuka Godwin; Umeugokwe P Ikenna; Uzochukwu I Emmanuel; Ikeh N Ephraim; Anizoba N Winifred; Ali L Chukwudi; Ugwu M Chekwube; Okengwu J Chigozirim; Chukwudi Prosper; Nnadozie O Chukwuemelie; Onuorah S Ifeanyichukwu; Ndofor-Foleng M Harriet; Machebe N Samuel. "Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies". EKB Journal Management System, , , 2025, 1-6. doi: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.405267.2995
Chigozie, A., Valaentina, E., Godwin, C., Ikenna, U., Emmanuel, U., Ephraim, I., Winifred, A., Chukwudi, A., Chekwube, U., Chigozirim, O., Prosper, C., Chukwuemelie, N., Ifeanyichukwu, O., Harriet, N., Samuel, M. (2025). 'Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies', EKB Journal Management System, (), pp. 1-6. doi: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.405267.2995
Chigozie, A., Valaentina, E., Godwin, C., Ikenna, U., Emmanuel, U., Ephraim, I., Winifred, A., Chukwudi, A., Chekwube, U., Chigozirim, O., Prosper, C., Chukwuemelie, N., Ifeanyichukwu, O., Harriet, N., Samuel, M. Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; (): 1-6. doi: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.405267.2995

Effects of Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on Utero-ovarian Morphometry, Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does, and Pre-Weaning Performance of their Bunnies

Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences
Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 16 October 2025    PDF (466.97 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.405267.2995
Authors
Amaefule Bright Chigozie* 1; Emmanuel Valaentina1; Chukwuka Godwin2; Umeugokwe P Ikenna2; Uzochukwu I Emmanuel3; Ikeh N Ephraim1; Anizoba N Winifred2; Ali L Chukwudi1; Ugwu M Chekwube1; Okengwu J Chigozirim4; Chukwudi Prosper1; Nnadozie O Chukwuemelie2; Onuorah S Ifeanyichukwu1; Ndofor-Foleng M Harriet1; Machebe N Samuel1
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State.
2Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State
3Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State., Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
4Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of monk’s pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) on the utero-ovarian morphometry, reproductive performance of rabbit does, and pre-weaning growth of their bunnies. A total of 24 healthy rabbit does aged four months and averaging 2.2 ± 0.3kg body weight, were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. The control group (T1) received a basal diet without Vitex agnus-castus, while treatments T2, T3, and T4 had inclusions of Vitex agnus-castus fruit powder at 2, 4, and 6 g/kg, respectively. Each treatment was replicated thrice, with two does per replicate. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. At the end of the 4-week feeding period, reproductive organs were excised post-mortem for morphometric evaluation. Ovarian and uterine dimensions were measured as indicators of reproductive tract morphometry. Reproductive parameters assessed included litter size and litter weight at birth and weaning, and pre-weaning growth performance of the bunnies. Results showed that 4 g/kg Vitex agnus-castus (T3) significantly (p<0.05) improved litter size, and total litter weight at birth and weaning. Similarly, T3 does had the highest mean weights of ovaries and uterine structures, and enhanced uterine horn and body lengths. While 6 g/kg (T4) significantly (p<0.05) improved individual bunny weight during the pre-weaning phase, it reduced litter size and total litter weight, suggesting dose-dependent antagonistic effects. These findings indicate that Vitex agnus-castus at 4 g/kg optimally enhanced fertility and maternal function in rabbit does, offering a promising, low-cost phytogenic alternative for mitigating reproductive inefficiencies in tropical regions.
Keywords
Morphometry; phytoestrogens; rabbit does; reproductive performance; Vitex agnus-castus
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