Effect of dietary inclusion of vitamin E as anti-oxidant on the semen characteristics of local cocks

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of vitamin E as anti-oxidant on the semen characteristics of local cocks. Avian spermatozoa are subject to oxidative stress, causing male infertility because of its high polyunsaturated fatty acids content. Therefore, it was justified to research and report on the use of vitamin E as an antioxidant on the semen characteristics of local cocks. A total of 50 mature local cocks of uniform sizes (weighing about 1.52-1.53kg) were used for the study. Their exact ages were not known due to the lack of adequate record keeping by the traditional household keepers. The birds were divided into two treatment groups with 25 birds per treatment. Data generated were analyzed using independent group sample t-test. Each treatment had five replicates with 5 birds per replicate. Feed fed to T₁ birds contained 1000 IU vitamin E kg^-1 feed, while T₂ (control) feed had no vitamin E. From the results obtained, sperm progressive motility, live: dead, normal and abnormal sperm cell morphologies were found to be highly significant (p<0.01), while semen volume and sperm concentration were significant (p<0.05). T₁ birds that fed diet containing vitamin E had the highest percentage values for semen volume, sperm progressive motility, live sperm cells, normal sperm cells and sperm cell concentration compared to control birds (T₂). Percentage values for dead and abnormal sperm cells were highest in control (T₂). In conclusion, the use of vitamin E as anti-oxidant to improve semen qualities was recommended because of higher values of sperm progressive motility, semen volume, live sperm cells, normal sperm cells and sperm cell concentration recorded in T₁.