Volume : 2, Issue : 8, August - 2013

Semen Quality of Two Breeds of Toms Subjected to Different Ejaculation Frequencies

Nwoga, Cornelius Chijiokee, Onyimonyi Anselm Ego, Ugwu, Simeon Ogochukwu C

Abstract :

A study was carried out at the Department of Animal Science Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to investigate the effect of frequency of ejaculation (once bi–weekly, once, twice and thrice per week) on semen quality of local and exotic eeds of toms. A total of sixteen turkeys comprising 8 exotic toms and 8 local toms, at 30 weeks of age, were used for the study. The results showed that progressive motility, sperm concentration, live sperm and normal sperm were highly significantly (P<0.01) higher in local than exotic toms, values being 67.61 + 4.24 vs 44.05 +4.24%, 8.34 + 1.52 vs 6.48 + 0.92 × 109 ,82.61 + 4.55 vs 66.43 + 5.70% and 78.46 + 4.36 vs 62.61 + 5.38% respectively. Semen volume and total sperm in ejaculate were highly significantly (P<0.01) higher in exotic than local toms, values being 0.47 + 0.02 vs 0.32 + 0.01ml and 2.95 + 0.39 vs 2.06 + 0.18× 109 respectively. The interaction of eeds and frequency of ejaculation favored (P<0.01) the local toms at once bi–weekly and thrice weekly collection frequencies. It was concluded that once bi–weekly or thrice weekly collection frequencies could be used in any artificial insemination protocol to further select the Nigerian local turkey for improved egg and/or meat production