Effects of <i>Borassus aethiopum</i> extract on semen characteristics, fertility and hatchability in chicken

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate potential diluents for short term usage (0, 30, 60 minutes) of chicken semen in a complete randomized design model. Semen samples were collected and diluted with normal saline (NS) and Borassus aethiopum (BE) extract while undiluted semen (US) served as control at 37⁰C for short term usage in artificial insemination (A.I.). There was significant (p<0.05) increase in sperm motility for US and B.E diluted semen compared with NS diluted semen. Sperm dead cell was significantly higher (p<0.05) in NS and US compared with BE at 30 and 60 minutes respectively. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in fertility for BE at 0 minute. Fertility and hatchability significantly (p<0.05) decreased in US and NS. There was no fertility noticed for US and semen in NS at 60 minutes. It can be concluded that BE diluents proved better than NS and US.

Keywords: Chicken semen, Diluents, Borassus aethiopum, Fertility, Hatchability