Evaluation of semen quality of four strains of turkeys and parthenotes reared in the humid tropics for use in turkey breeding programmes

Abstract

A total of fifteen post-pubertal toms were used to determine the physical semen qualities of four varieties of turkeys and parthenotes (3 white local (WL); 3 black local (BL); 3 silver local (SL); 3 white Nicholas (WN) and 3 parthenotes (PT)) reared in humid tropics. The PT were from WL hens. The results indicated significant (p<0.05) effects of variety on semen volume, SV, normal sperm, NS, abnormal sperm, AS, sperm concentration, SC, total motile sperm, TMS and total sperm in ejaculate, TSE. The highest SV value of 0.43±0.03ml was recorded in WN and SL strains. WN and BL strains had the highest value of 98.50±0.50% in NS. SL and PT strains had the highest mean value of 4.50±0.50% in AS. The highest SC value of 3.55±0.05 x 10⁹/ml was recorded in BL strain. BL strains had the highest value of 3.01±0.14 x 10¹²/ml in TMS. BL strain had the highest value of 9.78±1.03 10⁹ in TSE. It was concluded that the effect of strain was significant on the semen physical properties and that parthenotes were equally fecund and compared favourably with their white local parent strain and other strains and could be used in turkey breeding programmes.

Keywords: Parthenogenesis; Parthenotes; Plumage colour; Strain; Turkeys