The Semen Quantity and Quality of Two Fowl Strains Supplemented with Vitamin E (α–Tocopherol)

Abstract

The study on semen quantity and quality of Kampung and Arab fowl under various levels of vitamin E supplementation was conducted, using 2x4 factorial Completely Randomized Design with 4 replicates.  Analysis of variance followed by Duncan New Multiple Range Test were used to analyze the data.  Levels  of vitamin E given orally were 0 IU (control); 2 IU (t₁); 4 IU (t₂) and 8 IU (t₃) per bird daily.  The results showed that semen volume was not affected by genotype (Kampung: 0.26 ± 0.05 ml Vs.  Arab: 0.22 ± 0.05 ml) while the vitamin E treatments significantly (P<0.05) affected the semen volume i.e. 0.16 ± 0.06 ml (control); 0.27 ± 0.04 ml (t₁); 0.28 ± 0.03 ml (t₂) and 0.23 ± 0.03 ml (t₃).  Semen viscosity was not affected by genotype, but was substantially affected by vitamin E treatments.  The semen pH was not influenced by all treatments given, spermatozoa concentration of Kampung (1.80 ± 0.39 billion/ml) was not significantly different with that of Arab (1.86 ± 0.16 billion/ml).  Vitamin E treatments resulted in different (P<0.05) spermatozoa concentration among control (1.50 ± 0.16 billion/ml), t₁ (1.98 ± 0.14 billion/ml), t₂ (2.01 ± 0.09 billion/ml) and t₃ (1.87 ± 0.18 billion/ml).  No significant different found on semen mass movement between Kampung and Arab, also among vitamin E treatments.  The spermatozoa motility of Kampung and Arab was not statistically different, however vitamin E improved motility significantly (P<0.05); control (2.90 ± 0.59); t₁ (3.5 ± 0.16); t₂ (3.54 ± 0.25) and t₃ (3.44 ± 0.48).  Percentage of dead spermatozoa of Kampung and Arab were 18.24 ± 1.98% and 17.35 ± 2.74%, while vitamin E supplementation results were as follows 18.10 ± 3.03% (control); 18.54 ± 2.01% (t₁); 17.72 ± 1.47% (t₂) and 16.82 ± 2.87% (t₃) no significant different was found.  Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Kampung (4.35 ± 0.80%) and Arab (4.64 ± 0.87%) was not different statistically.  Among the vitamin E treatments the results was as follows 4.31 ± 1.40% (control); 4.75 ± 0.69% (t₁); 4.94 ± 1.91% (t₂) and 3.97 ± 1.14% (t₃).  However, significant (P<0.05) interaction effects were found in Kampung males at treatment t₂ (4 IU) and t₃ (8 IU). (Animal Production 7(2): 67-73 (2005)

Key Words: Kampung, Arab, Fowl, Semen, Vitamin E