Semen quality of adult male offspring of Heterobranchus longifilis of different parental age groups fed two different iso-nitrogenous feeds

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of feed type and age of broodstock on semen quality of F1 offspring of Heterobranchus longifilis. Parental broodstocks aged 1½, 2½ and 3½ year-old raised on farm-made and commercial feeds were hormonally induced to spawn. The consequent fingerlings of parental broodstocks of the three age classes were cultured for 1½ years using commercial feed and thereafter, evaluated for semen quality. Statistical analysis evidence that parental isonitrogenous nutrition and age had no significant effects (P>0.05) on semen quality of F1 offspring of H. longifilis. All values of sperm quality parameters showed non-significant (p>0.05) differences among groups evaluated. However, sperm quality increased with increasing age of paternal broodstock (P > 0.05). Study suggests breeders should give greater attention to good quality feeds for F1 broodstock; and broodstock aged 2½ years and above should be acquired on account of availability and affordability in production of good quality male broodstock, semen quality and for mass production of H. longifilis.

Keywords: Age-related effects, reproductive performances, spermatozoa, trans generational transmission