Semen quality, biochemistry and mineral content of five strains of cocks raised in the humid environment of Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the genetic effect on semen quality, biochemistry and mineral content of three strains of Nigerian indigenous and two exotic cocks. One hundred (100) adult local breeding cocks comprising 20 normal, 20 frizzle and 20 naked necks, 20 dominant black and 20 dominant blue feather were selected randomly from the Poultry Breeding Unit of the Teaching and Research farm, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma. Semen was collected using abdominal massage technique and analyzed. Strain significantly (P<0.05) affected the semen characteristics examined. The frizzle strain had the highest semen volume while naked neck had the least with the corresponding mean values of 0.59±0.00, 0.56±0.00 and 0.39±0.00ml respectively. The normal-feathered cocks had the highest semen concentration while the naked necked cocks had the least with corresponding values of 21.18±0.03and 18.07±0.16×109ml respectively. Mean values of semen pH was significantly (P<0.05) different between the strains. The semen pH for all the strains was slightly alkaline and ranged from 7.49±0.05 to 8.30±0.62. Sperm motility was highest and significant (P<0.05) for normal feather cocks with mean value of 97.55±1.16%, while the frizzled cocks had the least value of 60.99±0.05%. Semen biochemistry and minerals was affected by strain. Semen biochemistry and minerals was also affected by strain. The naked neck feathered cocks had the highest semen total protein, followed by dominant blue feather, Normal feather, Dominant black feather, while the frizzle feather cocks had the least with corresponding values of 2.59±0.04, 1.82±0.03, 1.63±0.03, and 1.55±0.03 and 1.28±0.02 g/dl respectively. The normal feather strain had the highest semen Albumin while dominant black feather had the least with the  corresponding mean values of 0.65±0.04, 0.55±0.02, 0.53±0.03, 0.53±0.02 and 0.36±0.02 g/dl  respectively. Mean values of semen Glucose was significantly (P<0.05) different among the strains. The semen Glucose for all the strains ranged from 181.95±0.38 to 112.70±0.39 mg/dl. Semen cholesterol, was highest and significant (P<0.05) for naked neck feather cocks with mean value of 101.63±0.22, while the frizzled cocks had the least value of 53.24±0.29 mg/dl. The dominant black feather strain had the highest semen sodium while normal feather had the least with the corresponding mean values of  156.75±0.36, 154.76±0.41, 150.35±0.36, 150.16±0.30 and 137.85±0.41 ml/dl respectively. The normal feather strain had the highest semen Albumin while dominant black feather had the least with the  corresponding mean values of 0.65±0.04, 0.55±0.02, 0.53±0.03, 0.53±0.02 and 0.36±0.02 g/dl  respectively. The naked neck feathered cocks had the highest semen phosphorus, followed by dominant blue feather, Dominant black feather, and frizzle feather while the Normal feather cocks had the least with corresponding values of 18.90±5.79, 13.76±0.06, 12.90±0.34, 12.12±0.05 and 10.18±0.03 m/dl  respectively. A significant (P<0.05) difference was obtained in the, chloride and potassium content of the semen mineral samples. It was concluded that large genetic variation existed in semen quantity traits in the cocks used for the study and can therefore be included in genetic improvement as gene contributors.

Key words: Frizzle, Indigenous cocks, Normal Naked neck, Dominant blue/black, Exotic, Quality Semen biochemistry and Semen minerals