SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS AND FERTILITY OF THREE STRAINS OF NOILER COCKS

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the semen characteristics and fertility of three strains of noiler cocks. A total 180 normal feathered Noiler birds were procured at nine weeks of age from Bauchi state Agricultural Development Program (BSADP) farm comprising of 45 Noiler cocks (15 brown, 15 black and 15 spotted) and 135 Noiler hens (45 brown, 45 black and 45 spotted). The experiment lasted a period of eight months and they were fed commercial diet throughout the period of the experiment. Two types of incubator were used, namely automatic incubator (A) and locally built water bed (B). The study was conducted at the poultry unit of the BSADP. The result showed that in parameters such as semen colour, pH, total motility, dead sperm, abnormal sperm cells and sperm concentration (x109 ) there were no significant difference (p˂0.05) between the strains however volume, mass activity and sperm concentration were significantly different (P<0.05). Statistical difference (P<0.05) were observed from incubator A, where brown strain showed high fertility, followed by spotted and least in black with 83.7%, 80.8% and 75.3% respectively. From incubator B, it shows significant difference (P<0.05) with black strain showing highest fertility percentage (86.3%) followed by spotted (78.1%) and least were observed in brown with 72.6%. Chick quality with regards to weight is statistically not different (P˂0.05) among strains. The data obtained from this study indicate that there were variations among the stains in parameters such as semen volume, mass activity and semen concentration. However these variations did not influence the quality of day old chicks as no statistical difference was observed. This study there for recommends that any of the three strains of Noiler cocks can be used for breeding purposes.