Study on the Beneficial Effects of Garlic, Tribulus Terrestris, and Vitamin E Supplementation on Semen Quality, Fertility, and Hatchability of Desi Male Chicken

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with garlic, Tribulus terrestris, and vitamin E on semen quality parameters in desi male chickens maintained under local farming conditions in Sindh, Pakistan. A total of twenty-four non-descriptive desi chickens (8 males and 16 females, aged 19–20 weeks) were allocated to four dietary groups for 42 days: G1 (basal diet with 150 g/kg garlic), G2 (basal diet with Tribulus terrestris at 1 capsule/liter of water), G3 (basal diet with vitamin E at 1 capsule/liter of water), and G4 (control with basal breeding ration only). Semen samples collected from treated males were analyzed for volume, mass motility, individual motility, live sperm, and dead sperm counts. Results demonstrated significant improvements in the garlic group (G1), with semen volume (0.36 ± 0.02 ml), mass motility score (4.40 ± 0.16), and individual motility (83.00 ± 2.55), outperforming the control group (0.21 ± 0.02 ml, 2.60 ± 0.16, and 62.60 ± 1.67 respectively). Tribulus terrestris (G2) and vitamin E (G3) groups also showed improved semen characteristics relative to control, though garlic supplementation consistently yielded the highest values. These findings indicate that targeted inclusion of garlic, Tribulus terrestris, or vitamin E in breeding rations can significantly enhance semen quality traits in desi chickens, offering practical, low-cost strategies for improving reproductive efficiency and supporting sustainable poultry production in resource-limited settings.