SHORT TERM HOLDING CAPACITY OF PLANT BASED EXTENDER ON TWO ECONOMIC POULTRY SPECIES MICROSCOPIC SEMEN QUALITY

Abstract

Response of different poultry species variability to dilution and holding period of their semen after ejaculation has been reported by various studies. This study is conducted to test if formulated plant based, Tris Coconut-water Orange Juice, extender (TCWOE) for dilution of poultry semen is specie specific or not. TCWOE was prepared. Semen ejaculates were collected and pooled from five toms and cocks separately. The pooled semen for each species was divided into two portions each, making four treatments and was diluted with extender at the ratio of 1:3 (semen: extender). Experimental design used was completely randomized design consisting of three trials. Microscopic semen parameters such as motility, viability membrane and acrosome integrity were examined and recorded for freshly extended semen examined immediately after dilution and 12h preserved semen at 4-8 oC. Percentage motility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in extended cock semen, but was not significantly different to un-extended Cock and Tom semen. Percentage live sperm and acrosome integrity revealed no significant different (p>0.05) in both species (extended and un-extended). At 12h, motility and membrane integrity of both extended and un-extended poultry species semen is significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. Although, extended cock semen had highest value recorded for sperm motility and membrane integrity. In conclusion, dilution of semen with Tris coconut-water orange juice extender revealed a significant positive impact on the sperm cells activities of both Cock and Tom, but had more significant impact on dilution and short term holding potentials on Cock semen than Tom semen.