International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(5), pp. 077-079, May 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Short Communication

Effect of cassava peel meal on ejaculate characteristics and gonadal/extragonadal sperm reserves in mature cockerels

C.O. Ajuonuma*, I.I. Bitto and M.A. Tion

College of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: chrisezihe@yahoo.com.

Accepted 29 May, 2014

Abstract

Forty cockerels, 24 weeks of age fed varied levels of cassava peel meal were evaluated for ejaculate characteristics, gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves. The diets were 1 (0%), 2 (10%), 3 (20%) and 4 (30%) cassava peel meal inclusion levels. The average sperm volume recorded for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 0.311±0.021, 0.313±0.003, 0.346±0.003 and 0.347±0.220 ml respectively. The mass activity (1-5) were 3.732±0.128, 3.561±0.141, 3.738±0.147 and 3.543±0.163 for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, while the sperm motility averaged 72.93±2.921, 73.17±3.221, 76.875±2.967 and 70.320±3.182 for the respective diets. The sperm concentration (×10⁹/ml) was 0.14±0.01, 0.15±0.01, 0.13±0.01 and 0.14±0.01, while the total sperm/ejaculate(x10⁹/ml) was 0.14± 0.01, 0.15±0.01, 0.13±0.01 and 0.14±0.01, and the total sperm/ejaculate (x10⁹/ml) included 0.052±0.007, 0.031±0.005, 0.045±0.006 and 0.052±0.006 for the various inclusion levels. The gonadal sperm reserves averaged 3.10±0.43, 2.48±0.39, 2.77±0.35, 1.93±0.42 while the epididymal and ductus deferens sperm reserves for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 0.83±0.17, 1.23±0.22, 0.88±0.18, 1.04±0.14 and 1.51±0.23, 1.24±0.18, 1.30±0.16, 1.20±0.24 respectively. Sun-dried cassava peel meal has no adverse effect on ejaculate characteristics as well as the gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of Bovans cockerels. Semen samples were collected twice weekly, that is, Tuesdays and Fridays for 5 weeks between 08.00 and 10.30 hours from each cock. One gram of the testicular sample was homogenised in 100 ml of normal saline while 1 g each of ductus deferens and epididymal samples respectively were also homogenised in 10 ml of normal saline. The number of sperm cells counted was multiplied by a factor of 10,000,000 to determine the gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves.

Key Words: cassava peel meal, ejaculate characteristics, gonadal/extra-gonadal sperm reserves, ockerels