Twenty four (5 months old) mixed breeds of rabbits comprising twelve males and females with an average weight of 1.52kg were used for a study to compare the impact of root bark, seeds and pod husk of Alchornea cordifolia on the gonads, serum level of testosterone, estrogen, serum enzymes and blood corpuscles of rabbits. Fresh roots and seeds of A. cordifolia were harvested and grounded into powders. Five grams each of the different powders (root bark, seed and pod husk) representing treatments B, C and D respectively were administered into one kilogram (l kg) of the concentrate feed (commercial breeders mash) and fed to the animals in their groups—B (root bark), C (seed) and D (pod husk) in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. The animals in group A representing control were given only the concentrate feed without any of the A cordifolia powder. Results showed that the control (A) recorded the highest feed intake of (3.32 ± 0.39 kg), weight gain and feed efficiency showed no significant difference (p>0.05) among the various groups. Treatment C (seed) had the highest weight gain of 1.36 ± 0.72kg followed by treatment A (1.32± 0. 75kg,), treatment B (1.15 ± 0 .55kg) and D (1.09± 0. 72kg). The means of Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were not significantly different (P>0.05) between the control and other groups. The results showed a progressive reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels right from the control to the other groups. The lowest productive level of estrogen and progesterone were recorded in treatment C (0.20 n mol/L) and D (9.5nmol/L).
