Main Article Content
Abstract
Semen quality determines the fertilizing ability of cocks and other male animal’s semen. The goal of this study was to ascertain how ecotype, collection week, cock, and their interactions affected semen quality. The study also estimated the repeatability of some semen quality traits. A total of forty (40) cocks made up of 20 heavy ecotypes and 20 light ecotypes were used for the study. The cocks were individually identified with wing tags. Semen was collected from each cock from 7 am to 10 am every Saturday consistently for six weeks using the abdominal massage technique (AMT). Collected semen was evaluated in terms of volume, concentration, mass density, live sperm, and pH. The results indicated that the week of semen collection significantly affected sperm motility, percent live sperm, and semen pH, while ecotype significantly affected live sperm only. Ecotype x week x cock, interactions significantly affected sperm concentration only. The repeatability of semen quality traits was generally low and ranged from 0.01 ± 0.04 to 0.12 ± 0.04, thus depicting the massive influence of environmental factors on semen quality traits. It is concluded that more than six records are required to characterize the semen-producing ability of the Nigerian indigenous cocks.
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References
- Adejoh-Ubani, E.O., Olutunmogun, A.K., Bisat, J.J., Umar, U.A. and Nwagu, B.I. 2022 Assessment of Broiler Breeder Cocks Under Selection for Semen Quality as Influenced by Age and Body weight Changes Nigerian J. Anim. Sci. 2022, 24 (1): 19-27
- Akintunde, A. O., Toye, A. A., Ademola, A. A., Chimezie, V. O and Ajayi, O. A. 2020. Sperm characteristics of Nigerian local cocks and exotic strain of cocks fed graded levels of moringa oleifera seed meal. Tropical Animal Production Investigation. 23(2): 1–10.
- Akporhuarho, P. O. and Obodoagwu, E 2020. Estimates of repeatability for body weight and conformation traits in three breeds of grower pigs. Nig. J. Anim. Prod, 47(1):47 – 52
- Ayeneshet, B., Taye, M., Esatu, W., & Tsefa, A. (2024). Comparative analysis of semen quality and fertility in diverse rooster breeds: a systematic review. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 80(3), 947–975. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2024.2338347
- Bhatti JA, Soomro H, Laghari IH, Memon A, Du XX, Kalwar Q, Hassan MF and Rajput ZI, 2023. Comparative evaluation of seasonal influence of photoperiod and temperature on the semen quality of exotic and indigenous roosters. Agrobiological Records 14: 103-110. https://doi.org/10.47278/journal.abr/2023.042
- Becker W A 1984. Manual of quantitative genetics, 4th edition. Academic Enterprises, Washington, USA.
- Kassa B. 2018. Heritability, breeding value, environmental deviation, and repeatability of chicken performance. Int. J. of Agriculture and Agricbusiness vol. 1 issue 2: 7-14.
- Emeka O.C., Oleforuh-Okoleh V.U. and Obianwuna U.E 2022. Evaluation of Semen Characteristics Influenced By Breed, Age and Estimation of the Genetic Parameters for Semen Quality Traits of Nigerian Indigenous Chickens Raised In Humid Tropics. In: Proceedings of the 47th annual conference of the NSAP, Jos, Nigeria.
- Mavi Gurjot Kaur, Dubey P.P, Cheema Ranjna S, Dash S.K, Bansal B.K 2018. Comparative analysis of semen quality parameters and their relationship with fertility in different genetic groups of layer chicken. Indian J. Animal Research http://dx.doi.org/10.18805/ijar.B-3646
- Okoro V M O, Mbajiorgu C A and Mbajiorgu E F. 2016. Semen quality characteristics of Koekoek breeder cocks influenced by supplemental inclusion levels of onion and garlic mixture at 35-41 weeks of age. Revista Bras. Zootec, 45(8): 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-92902016000800002
- Ordaz-Contreras RI, Sosa-Montes EII, Pro-Martínez AI, González-Cerón FII, Salinas-Ruíz JIII, Gallegos-Sánchez JI, Cadena-Villegas S (2023) Physical and Semen Characteristics of Mexican Creole Roosters in Summer and Autumn, at 19° North Latitude with a Constant Photoperiod. Braz. J. Poult. Sci. 25 (1). Pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2022-1663
- Pelayo R, Ramon M, Granado-TajadaI, Ugarte E, Serrano M, Gutierrez-Gil and Arranz J J. 2019. Estimation of the genetic parameters for semen traits in Spanish dairy sheep. Animal 9: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121147
- Sanda, A.J., Bemji, M.N., Wheto, M., Oso, A.O., Sanda, M.O. and Olowofeso, O 2022 Heritability and repeatability estimates of growth traits in FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler chicken genotypes Nigerian J. Anim. Sci., 24 (2): 1-17
- Udeh I 2010. Repeatability of semen quality traits in Nigerian local chickens. Nature and Applied Sciences Journal Vol. 11 no 1: 45-48.
References
Adejoh-Ubani, E.O., Olutunmogun, A.K., Bisat, J.J., Umar, U.A. and Nwagu, B.I. 2022 Assessment of Broiler Breeder Cocks Under Selection for Semen Quality as Influenced by Age and Body weight Changes Nigerian J. Anim. Sci. 2022, 24 (1): 19-27
Akintunde, A. O., Toye, A. A., Ademola, A. A., Chimezie, V. O and Ajayi, O. A. 2020. Sperm characteristics of Nigerian local cocks and exotic strain of cocks fed graded levels of moringa oleifera seed meal. Tropical Animal Production Investigation. 23(2): 1–10.
Akporhuarho, P. O. and Obodoagwu, E 2020. Estimates of repeatability for body weight and conformation traits in three breeds of grower pigs. Nig. J. Anim. Prod, 47(1):47 – 52
Ayeneshet, B., Taye, M., Esatu, W., & Tsefa, A. (2024). Comparative analysis of semen quality and fertility in diverse rooster breeds: a systematic review. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 80(3), 947–975. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2024.2338347
Bhatti JA, Soomro H, Laghari IH, Memon A, Du XX, Kalwar Q, Hassan MF and Rajput ZI, 2023. Comparative evaluation of seasonal influence of photoperiod and temperature on the semen quality of exotic and indigenous roosters. Agrobiological Records 14: 103-110. https://doi.org/10.47278/journal.abr/2023.042
Becker W A 1984. Manual of quantitative genetics, 4th edition. Academic Enterprises, Washington, USA.
Kassa B. 2018. Heritability, breeding value, environmental deviation, and repeatability of chicken performance. Int. J. of Agriculture and Agricbusiness vol. 1 issue 2: 7-14.
Emeka O.C., Oleforuh-Okoleh V.U. and Obianwuna U.E 2022. Evaluation of Semen Characteristics Influenced By Breed, Age and Estimation of the Genetic Parameters for Semen Quality Traits of Nigerian Indigenous Chickens Raised In Humid Tropics. In: Proceedings of the 47th annual conference of the NSAP, Jos, Nigeria.
Mavi Gurjot Kaur, Dubey P.P, Cheema Ranjna S, Dash S.K, Bansal B.K 2018. Comparative analysis of semen quality parameters and their relationship with fertility in different genetic groups of layer chicken. Indian J. Animal Research http://dx.doi.org/10.18805/ijar.B-3646
Okoro V M O, Mbajiorgu C A and Mbajiorgu E F. 2016. Semen quality characteristics of Koekoek breeder cocks influenced by supplemental inclusion levels of onion and garlic mixture at 35-41 weeks of age. Revista Bras. Zootec, 45(8): 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-92902016000800002
Ordaz-Contreras RI, Sosa-Montes EII, Pro-Martínez AI, González-Cerón FII, Salinas-Ruíz JIII, Gallegos-Sánchez JI, Cadena-Villegas S (2023) Physical and Semen Characteristics of Mexican Creole Roosters in Summer and Autumn, at 19° North Latitude with a Constant Photoperiod. Braz. J. Poult. Sci. 25 (1). Pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2022-1663
Pelayo R, Ramon M, Granado-TajadaI, Ugarte E, Serrano M, Gutierrez-Gil and Arranz J J. 2019. Estimation of the genetic parameters for semen traits in Spanish dairy sheep. Animal 9: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121147
Sanda, A.J., Bemji, M.N., Wheto, M., Oso, A.O., Sanda, M.O. and Olowofeso, O 2022 Heritability and repeatability estimates of growth traits in FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler chicken genotypes Nigerian J. Anim. Sci., 24 (2): 1-17
Udeh I 2010. Repeatability of semen quality traits in Nigerian local chickens. Nature and Applied Sciences Journal Vol. 11 no 1: 45-48.