Effect of Feed Quantity on Reproductive Performance and Semen Production of Broiler Breeder Males
Effect of Feed Quantity on Reproductive Performance and Semen Production of Broiler Breeder Males
Qianbao Wang, Zhengyang Huang, Shoufeng Li, Huayun Huang, Chunmiao Li and Zhenhua Zhao*
ABSTRACT
An appropriate dietary quantity level is considered to be important in controlling body weight and improving semen quantity and quality in broiler breeder males. A total of 60 F line broiler breeder males from 20 maternal families were averagely distributed into three groups received treatments of 135.5, 125.5 and 115.5 g/d diet respectively with ME 2770 kcal/kg and CP 15.4% from 23 wk of age. Fertility trials were conducted in another three groups of F line hens with 20 hens in each group. A significantly positive interaction between dietary quantity and semen volume was observed (p<0.05) which showed that males fed with 135.5 g/d diet produced much more semen. Except for semen volume, there was no difference in semen concentration, sperm motility and useable spermatozoa/ejaculate before 32 wk of age (p>0.05). Feed quantity was correlated positively with sperm concentration and sperm motility. At 50 wk of age, higher sperm motility was observed in males fed with 135.5and 125.5 g/d diet than males fed with 115.5 g/d diet (p<0.05). While feed quantity was correlated positively with semen volume, sperm concentration, useable spermatozoa/ejaculate, negative correlations between body weight and sperm concentration. Body weight and sperm motility were significant (p<0.05) at 32 wk of age, but no significant correlations existed between body weight and semen characteristics at 50 wk of age (p>0.05). These data suggested that appropriate body weight or body weight gain after sexual maturity was necessary to optimize reproductive performance. In fertility trial, a significantly higher embryonic mortality (8.65%) and significantly lower hatchability (90.48%) was found in males fed with 135.5g/d diet than other two groups (p<0.05). Taken together, feed allocation of 125.5 g/d under ME 2770 kcal/kg and CP 15.4% was recommended to broiler breeder males of genetically modified F line after sexual maturity.
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April 2021
Vol. 53, Iss. 2, Pages 401-800
