EFFECTS OF SEASON ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS AND FERTILITY OF SHIKABROWN BREEDER COCKS
EFFECTS OF SEASON ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS AND FERTILITY OF SHIKABROWN BREEDER COCKS
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Date
2007-12
Authors
OBIDI, JOSEPH AYODELE
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Abstract
The seasonal influence on the reproductive cycle of Shikabrown breeder cocks was
characterized by evaluating seminal traits, weekly for the three seasons associated with the
Northern Guinea Savannah zone. Semen samples were analyzed by gross and routine
laboratory methods for volume, motility, concentration, color, percent dead, and percent total
abnormality.
The highest volume and concentration values of 0.50 + 0.03 ml and 3.60 +
0.16x109/ml, respectively were obtained from Shikabrown White breeder cocks during the
rainy season, while the lowest volume and concentration values of 0.39 + 0.01ml and 2.90 +
0.04 x109/ml, respectively were obtained for the same strain during the hot-dry season.
Spermatozoa motility of 80.5 + 1.1% and 82.3 + 0.5% were obtained during the harmattan and
rainy season respectively, for the Shikabrown White breeder cocks. Percent dead sperm value
of 4.6 + 8.3% and 6.40 + 0.5% were recorded for the rainy and hot-dry seasons respectively;
which were statistically different from the value of 9.0 + 1.0% obtained during the harmattan
season for the Shikabrown White breeder cocks.
For the Shikabrown Red breeder cocks spermatozoa volume and concentration was
0.44 + 0.02ml and 0.45 + 0.05ml; and 3.44 + 0.05 x 109/ml and 3.53 + 0.09 x109/ml were
recorded for the harmattan and rainy seasons respectively. These values were significantly (P <
0.01) different from the values of 0.30 + 0.02ml and 2.50 + 0.08x109/ml obtained during the
hot-dry season for volume and concentration, respectively during the hot-dry season for the
Shikabrown Red breeder cocks. Per cent dead sperm in the Shikabrown Red cocks for the
rainy and hot-dry seasons (5.50 + 1.0% and 6.20 + 1.2%, respectively) were not statistically (P
< 0.05) significant, but were significantly (P < 0.01) different from the value of 8.40 + 0.5%
obtained during the harmattan season.
The ejaculate trait for per cent abnormality in Shikabrown Red cocks were not
significantly different from that of the Shikabrown White strains. In summary, although
spermatozoa were recovered throughout the year, optimal gamete quality was observed during
the rainy and harmattan seasons. Previous studies in cocks have demonstrated seasonal effects
on seminal traits, this is the first study to demonstrate a distinct effect of season on fertility and
testicular functional integrity.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY AND
PHARMACOLOGY
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
DECEMBER, 2007
Keywords
EFFECTS, SEASON, SEMEN, CHARACTERISTICS, FERTILITY, SHIKABROWN, BREEDER, COCKS