Biochemical characteristics and sperm production of turkey semen in relation to strain and age of the males

Abstract

The effect of turkey strain [BUT (Big-6), Hybrid Large White (HLW), and Nicholas (N-700)] on semen quantitative parameters (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, and total number of sperm) and biochemical parameters (seminal plasma protein concentration, acid phosphatase activity in spermatozoa and seminal plasma, and antiproteinase activity of seminal plasma) was investigated over the reproductive period. The Big-6 strain had better quantitative parameters of semen compared with HLW and N-700 strains. Besides protein concentration, the Big-6 strain had the highest level of acid phosphatase activity in semen and antiproteinase activity in seminal plasma. The N-700 strain was characterized by reduced quantitative parameters and the lowest levels of all biochemical parameters in semen. While quantitative parameters of semen showed very little trend over the 21 wk of the reproductive season, the biochemical parameters increased several fold. Biochemical parameters of semen seemed to be more affected than quantitative parameters by age of the males. These changes may be related to decreasing semen quality with increasing age of male turkeys.

Semen characteristics and fertility response of crosses between white and black plumage indigenous turkeys under artificial insemination

“…The fertility and hatchability of crosses between white and black plumage indigenous turkeys obtained were favourably compared with those reported by Kotlowska et al (2005) who reported an average percentage fertility value of 94.51% for Hybrid Large White Nicholas. The percentage hatchability recorded in this study was not affected by plumage colour.…”

“…Some semen quality parameters are characterized in terms of volume, colour, concentration, motility, mass activity, viability, and morphology. The parameters vary with the age of males in all poultry species leading to a reduction in fertility as the birds grows older (Kotlowska et al, 2005), but evaluation of semen quality parameters based on plumage colour has not been properly documented. Fertility is a complex interaction of traits involving two individuals (male and female) of different genetic composition and their ability to mate and produce viable offspring (Foote, 2010).…”

Specific expression of alternatively spliced genes in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) reproductive tract revealed their function in spermatogenesis and post-testicular sperm maturation

“…(British United Turkeys Big 6, Grelier, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine, France) maintained under standard husbandry conditions at the Turkey Testing Farm of the Department of Poultry Science (University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland) as described in detail ( Słowińska et al, 2020 ). The sampling time was chosen within reproductive season – the 8th week of reproduction season, when a high quality semen is produced ( Kotłowska et al, 2005 ). Only bird producing high quality semen were chosen for experiment, as shown by Słowińska et al (2020) .…”

Zootecnia: tópicos atuais em pesquisa - Volume 5

“…A concentração espermática varia entre 592 a 812x10 6 espermatozoides/mL e o volume do ejaculado de 0,020 a 0,035mL (Chelmonska et al, 2008). Em galos, a produção diária é de 173x10 6 sptz/g/dia e a concentração é de 6,17x10 9 espermatozoides/mL e o volume do ejaculado de 0,19mL (Bath;Chaudhari 2002;Maciel et al, 2008) e nos perus é de 6,54x10 9 espermatozoides/mL e volume de 0,35mL (Kotlowska et al, 2005).…”