Effect of ecotype and age on semen characteristics of three Tanzanian native chickens

Abstract

Several findings on the semen characteristics of domestic chickens have revealed that ecotype and age significantly affect semen quality. There is, however, lack of data on effects of ecotype and age on semen characteristics of Tanzanian native roosters. This study evaluated the effect of ecotypes (Ching’wekwe, Morogoro-medium and Kuchi) and ages (11-15 and 24-28 months) on semen quality. A total of 192 semen samples were collected from 12 roosters (four from each ecotype) using the abdominal massage technique at weekly interval for four consecutive months. Semen characteristics of individual samples were evaluated. The semen volume, pH, sperm motility, sperm concentration, proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology and proportion of live spermatozoa among the ecotypes varied from 0.42±0.04 to 0.52±0.03mL, 7.01±0.00 to 7.02±0.00, 72.81±1.27 to 76.63±1.35%, 3.90±0.98 to 4.12±1.96 x 109/mL, 86.16±0.55 to 89.38±0.80% and 88.06±1.13 to 90.97±0.81% respectively. However, only the variations in proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology and proportion of live spermatozoa among the ecotypes were significant (P<0.05). The semen volume, pH, sperm motility, sperm concentration, proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology and proportion of live spermatozoa among the two age groups varied from 0.44±0.03 to 0.52±0.03mL, 7.01±0.00 to 7.02±0.00, 73.88±1.13 to75.92±0.99%, 3.80±0.45 to 4.28±0.32 x 109/mL, 87.02±0.58 to 88.15±0.64%, 88.27±0.77 to 89.83±0.77% respectively. However, only the variations in semen volume among the two age groups were significant (P<0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficients between semen volume and other semen quality characteristics were mostly low to medium with positive values ranging from 0.01-0.51 between semen volume and sperm motility and between morphological normal spermatozoa and proportion of live spermatozoa, respectively. Although there is minimal variation in semen quality among ecotypes and age groups, all the ecotypes might still be used in breeding purposes to maintain native chickens, because the results found were within the reference range for chickens.

Semen quality parameters of the Tanzanian Horasi chicken ecotype

“…In the current study, the body weight of Horasi cocks varied from 2.4kg to 3kg, and the collected semen volume correlated positively with body weight of cocks. These observations were in line with those documented elsewhere (Tarif et al, 2013;Luvanga and Kashoma, 2022).…”

“…These results were in line with those reported by Cole and Cupps (1977), indicating an average semen ejaculate of about 0.6 mL, with the cockerel producing between 0.1 and 1.5 mL per ejaculation. However, the observed semen volume of 0.6 mL by average produced by Horasi cocks was higher than those reported in other Tanzanian native chicken ecotypes (Luvanga and Kashoma, 2022). Similarly, our findings are in agreement with what has been documented in heavy breed (0.1-0.9 mL) but superior than 0.05-0.50 mL produced by light strains of chicken ecotypes (Lake and Stewart, 1978).…”

“…In the current investigation, individual cocks' Horasi semen pH varied greatly, ranging from 7.06 to 7.45. Nevertheless, semen pH of 7.01 to 7.02 from indigenous chicken ecotypes range has been reported (Luvanga and Kashoma, 2022). This change in semen pH could be brought on by environmental and genetic influences.…”

“…Semen was obtained from cocks utilizing an abdominal massage technique, as previously described (Burrows and Quinn, 1935;Bakst and Dymond, 2013;Luvanga and Kashoma, 2022). Before experiment, the cockerels were given a preliminary period of four weeks of environmental adaptation and initial training to the abdominal massaging technique.…”

Combination of 5% Dextrose Ringer’s solution and egg yolk extender maintained the motility and viability of kampung rooster spermatozoa in chilled temperature

“…This volume was higher than that found in native roosters by Khaeruddin et al (2020) (0.12 ± 0.03 ml). The volume of different rooster semen was influenced by several factors, namely breed, age, frequency of ejaculation, quality of feed provided, and the health condition of the rooster (Luvanga and Kashoma, 2022). This study's fresh semen of the kampung rooster was milky white with a thick consistency and a concentration of 1272 ± 262,907 million/mL, which was lower than that obtained by Khaeruddin et al (2020) (2460 million/mL).…”