A Comparative Study of Quantitative and Qualitative Sperm’s Parameters and Testicular Histomorphometric Features in Arian and Ross 308 Breeding Roosters
Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical PathologyLoghman Ahmadzadeh 1 , Manochehr Allymehr 2 * , Mohammad Hossein Alavi 3 , Alireza Talebi 4 , Mazdak Razi 5
1 - Post-Graduate student (DVSc), Department of Poultry Health & Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Health & Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Poultry Health & Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Health & Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
5 - Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Keywords: Arian, Broiler breeder males, Ross308, Testis.,
Abstract :
Reduced fertility with advancing age is one of the main challenges in broiler breeder production. Since no comparative study has evaluated the fertility characteristics of the Arian strain alongside Ross 308, This study investigated sperm indices (motility, viability, and count) and testicular histomorphometry at 35, 45, and 55 weeks of age in both strains. Sperm and testicular samples were collected from 60 roosters (30 Arian, 30 Ross 308). The results of this study indicated that at 35 weeks, Arian had a higher (not significant) sperm count than Ross 308; at 45 and 55 weeks, no significant difference was observed, and at 55 weeks, Arian again exhibited a non-significant increase. In both strains, sperm count declined with age. At 35 weeks, sperm viability was higher in Ross 308, but at 45 weeks there was no significant difference; whereas at 55 weeks, Arian showed relatively higher viability. Sperm motility was higher in Ross 308 at 35 weeks but was greater in Arian at 45 and 55 weeks. Histological assessments revealed no significant differences between the strains regarding spermiogenesis, tubular differentiation, Sertoli cell counts, meiotic cells, or seminiferous tubule diameter. Sperm parameters in both strains showed a declining trend with age. Overall, Arian’s fertility was comparable to that of Ross 308 and demonstrated superior performance at older ages.