Sperm Characteristics of Nigeria Local Cocks and Exotic Strain of Cocks fed Graded Levels of Moringa oleifera Seed Meal

Abstract

Moringa oleifera seed meal (MOSM) offers a lot of potentials as a feedstuff which could be included in poultry nutrition. The experiment assessed the comparative influence of dietary MOSM on the sperm characteristics (semen volume, semen colour, mass activity, sperm motility, sperm concentration, testicular weights, epididymal weights, sperm reserves in the testis and epididymis and daily sperm production) of Yoruba Ecotype Nigerian Local Chickens (YENLC) and Isa Brown chickens. Data from this study were subjected to analysis of variance. The findings from this study showed that MOSM affected the sperm parameters of the cocks. YENLC had significantly higher values for semen characteristics but the reverse was the case for spermiogramic parameters where Isa Brown cocks had significantly higher (p<0.05) values. For all the chickens, birds fed 5% and 15% MOSM had significantly higher semen volume, 5% and 10% MOSM had higher mass activity and sperm motility while 10% had significantly better (p<0.05) sperm concentration. For YENLC, birds fed 15% MOSM had significantly higher semen volume, 5% and 10% had significantly higher mass activity and sperm motility while 10% and 15% had better sperm concentration. Isa Brown cocks, birds fed 5% and 15% had significantly better (p<0.05) semen volume and sperm motility, 10% had significantly better (p<0.05) mass activity while birds fed MOSM had significantly better (p<0.05) sperm concentration. It was concluded that 10% MOSM dietary inclusion would contribute to optimum growth and reproductive performance in YENLC. The study recommended that up to 10% MOSM can be included in chickens’ diet irrespective of the genotype for optimum sperm production and reproductive performance.