Abstract—The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on the semen characteristics of the Potchefstroom Koekoek cockerels. Thirty cockerels were divided into five groups, kept in individual cages and received five different diets: Commercial layer diet (CL), commercial cockerel diet (CC), modified layer diet (ML), modified layer diet supplemented with 5% fish oil (MLP) and a modified layer diet supplemented with 5% fish oil, 200mg/kg vitamin E and 5mg/kg selenium. Semen was collected twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. Semen characteristics were evaluated. Supplementation of fish oil did not significantly improve semen volume and sperm concentration. However, supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants increased the percentage of live and normal, as well as total motility of spermatozoa. The percentage of spermatozoa with mid-piece abnormalities and static motility were reduced in cockerels fed the MLPA diet. The supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants was associated with improved semen characteristics. Similarly, the supplementation of antioxidants provided enhanced protection against mid-piece abnormalities
 

Index Terms—fish oil, laboratory tests, CASA, vitamin E, selenium

Cite: Caiphus Hlungwani, Francois K. Siebrits, and Tshimangadzo L. Nedambale, "Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Antioxidants on Semen Characteristics of Potchefstroom Koekoek," Journal of Advanced Agricultural Technologies, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 140-145, June 2016. Doi: 10.18178/joaat.3.2.140-145