Semen Quality, Fertility and Egg Hatchability in Local Turkey Toms Fed Moringa and Gongronema Leaf Powder Diets

Subject Areas :

Y. Mercy ¹ (National Biotechnology Development Agency, North Central Zonal Biotechnology Centre of Excellence, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria)
N.S. Rugu ² (National Biotechnology Development Agency, North Central Zonal Biotechnology Centre of Excellence, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria)
C. Ezenwosu ³ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
A.E. Onyimonyi ⁴ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
N.W. Anizoba ⁵ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
C.O. Osita ⁶ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
C.M. Ugwu ⁷ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
S.O.C. Ugwu ⁸ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
N.S. Machebe ⁹ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
H.M. Ndofor-Foleng ¹⁰ (Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
R.C. Ezeokonkwo ¹¹ (Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)

Received: 2023-10-19 Accepted : 2023-02-05 Published : 2024-06-01

Keywords: egg-hatchability, Gongronema latifolium, Moringa oleifera, toms, turkey,

Abstract :

The study was conducted to determine the semen quality, fertility and egg hatchability in local Nigeria tur-key toms fed Moringa (MO) and Gongronema leaf (GL) powder diets. A total of 36 (10 weeks) local turkey toms (1.2-1.3 kg) were randomly assigned to 9 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 1 tom each in 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. Also, 72 turkey hens at point of first lay (26 weeks) weighing 3.4-3.5 kg were allot-ted to 9 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 2 hens each. Treatments include: T1= basal diet (BD) only, T2= BD + 15 g MO + 0 g GL/kg, T3= BD + 30 g MO + 0 g GL/kg, T4= BD +15 g GL + 0 g MO/kg, T5= BD + 30 g GL + 0 g MO/kg, T6= BD + 15 g MO + 15 g GL/kg, T7= BD + 30 g MO +15 g GL/kg, T8= BD + 15 g MO + 30 g GL/kg and T9= BD + 30 g MO + 30 g GL/kg diet. In the main effect of Moringa and Gongronema leaf powder on semen quality, toms fed 30 g MO/kg had the highest (P<0.05) semen quality, while the toms fed 15 and 30 GL/kg had the least (P<0.05) semen quality. In the combined effect of Mor-inga and Gongronema, semen volume, sperm cell concentration and normal sperm cell values of toms on treatment C were the highest (P<0.05), while the toms on treatment C and E had the highest (P<0.05) value for progressive motility. Percentage of fertile and hatched eggs were higher (P<0.05) in 15 and 30 g MO/kg than in control, 15 and 30 g GL/kg. In combined effect of Moringa and Gongronema on % fertility and egg hatchability of tom’s semen, % hatchability caused by semen from toms on treatment C and E were higher (P<0.05) than in the other treatments. It was concluded that improved semen quality in turkey can be achieved using 30 g MO/kg and combination 30 g MO kg + 15 g GL/kg diet.

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