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The present work evaluated the effects of feeding graded levels of whole cottonseed on reproductive parameters of Red Sokoto bucks. Twenty Red Sokoto bucks were used for the experiment. After a 14-day pre-treatment period, bucks were assigned for 90 days to one of four isonitrogeneous treatments: control (diet A); 0 mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet B); 15% mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet C); 30% mg kg-1 of total gossypol and (diet D); 45% mg kg-1 of total gossypol. The mean percentage sperm gross motility was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) compared to groups C (30% WCS) and A (control) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen pH and reaction time were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatment groups. Semen colour of the bucks in the control group was majorly creamy, in group C (30% WCS) and B (15% WCS) creamy to milky and group D (45% WCS) colourless. The mean semen volume was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups C and A compared to group D (45% WCS) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) when compared to group A (control) at days 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90. Group A (control) bucks had significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage live sperm compared to those in group D (45% WCS) at days 45, 60, 75 and 90. Mean Sperm morphological abnormalities including detached head, free tail curved tail and midpiece droplets were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group D (45%) than in group A (Control) at day 15 (for free tails) and day 90 (for all). Testicular and epididymal sperm reserves were higher in animals supplemented with up to 30% whole cottonseed. In conclusion, feeding bucks above 30% WCS resulted in more deleterious effects on the semen characteristics and testicular profile.

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This study accessed the reproductive performance of Bunaji cows in an Ovsynch protocol involving ovatide. Bunaji cows (n = 16) aged 4-6 years and weighing between 250-350 kg with body condition scores (BCS) of 2.5-3.5 were used. There were two treatment groups for synchronization of ovulation. Treatment group 1 comprising Bunaji (n = 8) received 50 µg of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) (Cystorelin) and 25 mg of PGF 2α. While, treatment group 2 comprising Bunaji (n = 8) received 50 µg of ovatide and 25 mg of PGF 2α. All cows from both treatment groups were inseminated at 16 h after each second GnRH or ovatide injections. Cows that showed mucus discharge from the vagina on the day of artificial insemination (AI) were recorded as well as those that had patent cervix. Cervical dilation was measured by taking note of the cows that had mid cervix insemination due to non-passage of the AI gun through the cervix. Transrectal palpation was conducted twice at a month interval to select cycling cows within 5-12 d of the estrous cycle before initiating Ovsynch protocol. It was repeated on day 45 post AI to confirm pregnancies in animals. Results showed that the rate of mucus discharge from the vagina was 37.5% and 87.5% for ovatide and Cystorelin, respectively; while the rate of cervical dilation were 75% and 87.5% for ovatide and Cystorelin, respectively (p > 0.05), and pregnancy rates were 0% and 12.5% for ovatide and Cystorelin, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups. It was concluded that treatment of Bunaji cows with 50 µg ovatide in Ovsynh protocol has heat and ovulation synchronization potentials and zero pregnancy rate. It was recommended that further studies be carried out using graded doses of 50, 100 and 150 µg of ovatide in a fixed time AI synchronization protocol in Bunaji cows, to tap the potentials of the hormone in manipulation of bovine reproduction.