Effects of Coconut, Groundnut and Tigernut Milk-Based Extenders on Fresh and Chilleduda Ram Semen in Maiduguri, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the effects of coconut, groundnut and Tigernut milk based extenders on some characteristics of Uda ram semen in Maiduguri, Nigeria. A total of 96 semen samples were collected using electro-ejaculator from six Uda rams, twice a week, for 8 weeks. Semen was pooled and divided into 4 aliquots. One aliquot was diluted with Oviplus® solution and egg yolk (Oviplus® + egg yolk) and served as control. The other 3 aliquots were extended with coconut, groundnut and tigernut milk-based extenders respectively. The samples were chilled to 5°C and evaluated for individual motility, livability and morphologic abnormalities. These evaluations were made immediately, at 24, 48 and at 72 hours post extension. The average semen volume, individual motility, livability, morphologic abnormalities, pH and concentration of semen analyzed immediately after collection were 1.35 ± 0.1 ml, 80.9 ± 1.5 (%), 75.8 ± 2.0 (%), 8.0 ± 0.8 (%), 6.9 ± 0.1 and 3.2 ± 0.2 (x109/ml) respectively. Furthermore, it was found that coconut, ground nut and tiger nut milkbased extenders maintained good semen quality of Uda rams till 48 hours post extension when chilled at 5°C and that the tiger nut milk based extenders have better semen preservative ability than the coconut and the ground nut milk based extenders.