Semen Characteristics and Specific Sperm Changes in Pubertal Boars Fed with Aidan (<i>Tetrapleura tetraptera</i>) Pod Meal

Abstract

A total of eighteen crossbred (Large White X Duroc) weaner boars, aged 6 weeks, averaging 9.47kg, were used to study the impact of  Aidan pod meal (APM) in a 16-week experimental period. The boars were divided into three treatment groups and assigned 0.0%  (control), 2.5% or 5.0% APM per unit weight of feed. The experiment was randomized. Data were collected on semen quality and specific  changes in morphometry and morphology of sperm. Mass motility, live and normal sperm proportions were reduced (P<0.05) at 5.0%  APM. Sperm concentration and total viable sperm were reduced (P<0.05) at both levels (2.5% and 5.0%) of APM treatment. Sperm from  APM-treated boars had longer (P<0.05) heads, which were wider (P<0.05) at 5.0% APM. The sperms were thicker (P<0.05) among boars  fed with 5.0% APM than in the control diet. Abnormality of the sperm head, number of sperm with cytoplasmic droplet and clumping  were reduced (P<0.05) in boars fed with APM. The number of sperm with broken mid-pieces increased in 5.0% APM application. It is  concluded that application of Aidan pod meal significantly reduced the semen quality parameters of pubertal boars. Sperm heads were  found to be longer and wider, with thick whole sperm, while most morphological sperm abnormalities were reduced, though with  increased number of sperm having broken mid-piece at 5.0% APM feeding.