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
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