Impact of vitamin C and electrolytes supplementation on semen quality of exotic and indigenous poultry under thermal stress

Warm and stressful environment adversely affect poultry but to search out the reasons for reduced fertility during extremes of summer was scanty. The Antioxidants may counter balance stress and improve semen quality. Therefore, the current study was designed to study the effects of vitamin C/electrolytes supplementation, breed and semen collection frequency on semen quality using 243 roosters in a 3 x 3 x 3 factorial design (n = 9/group). Semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphology were evaluated. There were effects (P < 0.05) on sperm concentration, motility, and viability in the roosters receiving 1 mL (4.6± 0.12 x 109 sperm/mL, 53.7 ± 1.03 %, and 53.6 ± 1.01%, respectively) or 2 mL of supplementation (4.6 ± 0.13 x 109 sperm/mL, 54.9 ± 1.04%, and 55.2 ± 1.02%, respectively) when compared to control (4.3 ± 0.11 x 109 sperm/mL, 48.6 ± 1.01%, and 46.8± 1.04%, respectively). Semen volume was less in indigenous roosters (0.146 ± 0.01 mL) than in Cobb-500 and Starbro roosters (0.306 ± 0.01 and 0.284 ± 0.01 mL, respectively). However, sperm concentration, motility and viability were greater in indigenous roosters (5.98 ± 0.13 x 109 sperm/mL, 76.8 ± 1.0%, and 74.4 ± 1.2%, respectively) than in Cobb-500 (4.11 ± 0.11 x 109 sperm/mL, 40.1 ± 0.9%, and 40.7 ± 1.1%, respectively) and Starbro (3.33 ± 0.12 x 109 sperm/mL, 40.4 ± 1.0%, and 40.8± 1.0%, respectively). No significant effect was observed on sperm morphology. In conclusion, the supplementation revealed in better results in indigenous than exotic poultry.