EFFECTS OF STRAIN ON GROSS TESTES MORPHOLOGY OF THREE STRAINS OF NOILER COCKS

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of strain on gross testes morphology of three strains of noiler cocks (brown, black and spotted). The study was conducted at the poultry unit of the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Project (BSADP). The study lasted a period of eight months. A total of 45 normal feathered Noiler cocks were used for this experiment which were procured at nine weeks of age from the BSADP farm and fed commercial diet throughout the duration of the experiment. They comprised of three strains (15 brown, 15 black and 15 spotted). Testes were collected from all cocks. Testes were trimmed of all adhering fat and tissue, and weighed to the nearest 0.01mm using an electronic scale. Testis length and width were measured using a Vanier calliper to the nearest 0.01mm. Using a measuring cylinder containing known quantity of water, the testis was dropped in the cylinder and the volume of water displaced was recorded as value. The result showed that live weight, paired testes weight, paired testes volume, left testes volume and right testes volume were statistically different (P<0.05) among the strains. There were no significant differences observed from the other parameters across the strains which comprises of the right and left testes weight, length, width. The results showed that brown strain was superior to black and spotted. Testis weight of all the three strains fell within the range of 9- 30g. From the finding of this study it is concluded that strain had significant effect on the gross testes morphology of Noiler Cocks.