WEEKLY SEMEN PRODUCTION OF MARSHALL BROILER BREEDER COCKS FED DIETARY SALT INCLUSIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the weekly semen production of Marshall Broiler breeder cocks fed supplemental acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and dietary salt (NaCl) inclusion. The experiment was conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Livestock Section of the Teaching and Research Farm, and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure between November 2021 and March 2022. Semen collection, through the abdominal massage method commenced at the 30th to 35th week of age and was carried out once weekly between 6.00 hours and 8.00 hours. A six-week data on total ejaculate volume (TEV), seminal plasma (SP), spermatocrit (ST), sperm motility (MT), dead sperm cells (DSC), abnormal sperm cells (ASC) and sperm concentration (SC) were collected and subjected to Microsoft excel using scatter with smooth lines and markers chart. Diet T₃ showed increase in total ejaculate volume from 30 to 35 weeks of age with peak at 33 weeks of age (0.6ml), highest in sperm motility between the ranges of
(98-100%), lowest in abnormal sperm cells (12-17%) and DSC (20-23%) while other treatment diets were lower. Diet T₄ was lowest in Seminal plasma which ranged from 87-90%, highest in spermatocrit (11- 13.67%) and SC (1.40×10⁹ mL^-1-2.27×10⁹ mL^-1 ) were lowest in the same treatment throughout the six-week study. In conclusion, 0.750% NaCl worked synergistically with 0.050% ASA to improve the ejaculate characteristics of this particular breeder cocks from 30 to 35 weeks of age.