Semen Characteristics and Hematology of Nigerian Local Cocks Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Ethiopian Pepper Fruit Meal

• Main Authors: I.E. Uzochukwu, B.C. Amaefule, C.N. Aba, N.W. Nnajiofor, N.S. Machebe, H.N. Foleng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-12-01
• Series: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
• Subjects: artificial insemination; chicken; semen quality; hematology; Xylopia aethiopica
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617119322755

SUMMARY: This study evaluated the effect of Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) fruit meal (EPFM) on the semen quality and hematology of Nigerian light ecotype local cocks. A total of 90 mature cocks (weighing about 1.4 ± 1.00 kg) were randomly assorted into 5 treatments groups: T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 with 18 cocks per treatment in a completely randomized design. The birds in T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 were fed basal diets containing EPFM at the levels of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/kg diet, respectively. Semen was collected twice per week using the abdominal massage method, while blood samples were collected at the eighth week of study for hematological analysis. Sperm concentration, sperm motility, live sperm cells, normal sperm cells, and total sperm count were higher in birds fed 2 and 4 g EPFM compared to the control group. At and above 6 g/kg diet, EPFM was observed to significantly decrease semen quality. The hematology results showed no significant differences among the different treatments in the considered indices. From these findings, we conclude that addition of EPFM up to 4 g/kg diet could be used to improve semen quality of cocks without detrimental effects on the physiological status of the birds.