Reproductive organ weight of Nigerian indegenous cocks fed diet with graded levels of tumeric (Curcuma longa)

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance/reproductive organ weight of Nigerian indigenous chicken (cock) fed diet with graded levels of turmeric rhizome powder (TRP). The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of TRP on the characteristics (relative organ weight), and to evaluate the effect of TRP supplemented diet on the reproductive organ weight of Nigerian Indigenous cocks. One hundred and twenty adult local breeding cocks divided into four groups with 30 birds in each group were used for the study. Each group was further replicated into three replicates of 10 birds per replicate. The birds in the experimental groups designated as T₁ , T₂ , T₃ , and T₄ were fed with TRP  supplemented diet at various inclusions, 0.0%, 0.25%, 0.50 %, and 0.75% respectively for eight weeks. The following parameters were measured, full reproductive organ (g), right vas deferens (g), paired vas deferens (g), right epididymis (g), left epididymis (g), paired epididymis (g), right testis (g), left testis (g) and paired testis. The result showed a gradual (p < 0.05) decline in reproductive morphometric weight and were significantly (p < 0.05) improved in the TRP supplemented group better than the control group. In conclusion, Turmeric powder supplemented diet at 0.25, and 0.5 % inclusions performed better in the reproductive morphometric of Nigerian indigenous cocks, although care should be exercised in prolonged supplementation above 0.5 % inclusion to prevent its deleterious effect on the organ weight. The reproductive organ weight of Nigerian indigenous cocks fed with Turmeric powder supplemented diet as observed in this study compared favorably and even better than the control T₁. This is an indication that Turmeric powder has a significant propensity to enhance the reproductive performance of our indigenous cock semen since semen quality is determined to a large extent by the size of the reproductive organ. Although, the Turmeric powder has no significant deleterious effect on the major reproductive organs which make it very safe for inclusion in the diet of our local indigenous cocks. Also from the study, to a better performance, good morphometric quality and size of the Nigerian indigenous cocks and with no negative effect on the reproductive performance of Nigerian Indigenous Cocks, 0.5% inclusion level is highly recommended.