EFFECT OF DIET ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF WHITE LEGHORN COCKS

Abstract

Seventy-two Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) roosters were fed for 24 28-day periods with 13 and 15 percent crude protein diets containing soybean meal (SBM) and cottonseed meal (CSM) ratios of 100:0, 50:50 and 0:100 la each protein diet to determine the look-term effects of protein levels and cottonseed meal on the reproductive traits. The statistical analyses of the data indicated no Henicabt differences among the protein levels for each ratio of SBM:CSM in mean body weight, daily feed consumption, semen volume, fertility, batchability, percent dead embryo at 18 and 21 days of Incubation, percent chicks pipped, semen concentrations, testicular Weight, hematocrit and testosterone level. The reproductive traits of the roosters were not affected by either feeding the two protein levels in the diet or the sources of the vegetable protein for 24 28-day periods.