Incidence of sperm Abnormalities in Ejaculates of Breeder cocks fed Rations Containing Different Levels of Cottonseed Meal

Abstract

A seven week study was conducted to determine the effect of three dietary levels of cottonseed meal (0%, 15%,30%) on the occurrence of spermatozoa morphological abnormalities in mature Rhode Island White (RIW) breeder cocks. Abnormalities of the acrosome, sperm head, cytoplasmic droplets and mid piece and sperm tail were investigated in 180 ejaculates collected between October and November. All types of abnormalities were variable between treatments and between extent of feeding (weeks). The values (2.90,5.30 and 8.63) on sperm head abnormalities were significantly different (P<0.01) between treatments and increased linearly with higher levels of cottonseed meal (CSM) in the diets. Abnormalities of the sperm tail were significantly variable (P<0.05) within treatment weeks with a linear increase from baseline value (2.00) lo about the 3r week post feeding (5.00). The mean total sperm morphological abnormalities in the treatment groups significantly increased linearly (P<0.01) as duration of feeding increased. It is suggested that breeder cocks should not be fed rations containing more than 15%CSM