Author/Authors :
Machebe ، N. S. نويسنده Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi, Nara, Japan. , , Ugwu ، S. O. C. نويسنده Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. , , Udeh ، F. U. نويسنده Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. , , Oyibe ، B. O. نويسنده Department of Animal Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. ,
Abstract :
The study evaluated the impact of dietary protein on semen characteristics of boars reared in Derived savannah zone of Nigeria. Sixteen crossbred (Large White x Landrace) boars were subjected to four dietary treatments containing different crude protein (CP) levels (T1 - 12% CP, T2 - 14% CP, T3 - 16% CP and T4 - 18% CP) for 60 days duration. Semen was collected from the boars twice a week using dummy sow and artificial vagina techniques. Ejaculates were subjected to physical evaluation to ascertain its quality. Dietary protein had significant (P < 0.05) effect on total semen volume, strained volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm output but not (P > 0.05) sperm motility. Percentage live, dead and normal sperm also differed (P < 0.05) among treatments. Sperm morphological abnormalities were not affected by dietary protein consumption. The results of the present study indicate that dietary protein levels influence some semen quality traits in boars without damage to sperm morphology.
