Growth rate, scrotal circumference, sperm characteristics, and sexual behavior of mixed-breed goat bucks fed three leguminous trees

Aim of study: To investigate the effect of feeding foliage of leguminous trees on growth rate, semen characteristics, and sexual behavior of bucks. Area of study: Northeastern Mexico (23°44' N, 99°8' W). Material and methods: Twenty-two young goat bucks were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: 33% alfalfa hay (dry matter basis), 33%; Acacia farnesiana; Leucaena leucocephala; or Prosopis laevigata foliage (n=4 for alfalfa; n=6 for the rest of groups). Main results: Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ between bucks fed alfalfa, A. farnesiana, or L. leucocephala (120 ± 26, 134 ± 37, and 103 ± 29 g/d, respectively), but ADG of bucks offered P. laevigata was the lowest (72 ± 8 g; p<0.05). Bucks fed alfalfa had the highest feed efficiency (6.59 ± 1.25 kg of feed consumed/kg of gain; p<0.05) and bucks offered leguminous trees had the lowest (average 9.85 ± 2.3). Bucks offered alfalfa, and A. farnesiana had increased (p<0.05) scrotal circumference (26.6 ± 0.4 and 25.8 ± 1.5 cm) than bucks fed L. leucocephala, or P. laevigata (24.3 ± 1.2 and 24.1 ± 2.0 cm). Mean ejaculate volume was two-fold higher in alfalfa-fed bucks than all other dietary treatments. Sexual behavior did not differ among bucks fed the different legumes. Research highlights: Foliage of both A. farnesiana and L. leucocephala could totally replace alfalfa hay for rearing growing goat bucks in confinement without affecting daily weight gain, most semen characteristics, and copulation ability. P. laevigata reduced body weight and reproductive function.

EFFECT OF PENICILLIN -CIPROFLOXACIN COMBINATION ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTIC AND BACTERIAL CONTAMINANTS OF DILUTED BULL SEMEN

Effect of penicillin- ciprofloxacin combinations on some semen characteristics and bacterial contaminants of diluted bull semen was determined and compared with those of penicillin- streptomycin combinations. Sperm motility, percentage of dead and abnormal spermatozoa and survival index did not differ significantly for penicillin (1000 IU) and ciprofloxacin (125, 250, 500, 1000 ug) combinations per milliliter of diluted bull semen from those of penicillin (1000 I.U) and streptomycin (500 ug) combination / ml. Each penicillin ciprofloxacin combination effectively controlled bacterial growth. However penicillin streptomycin combination did not effectively control the growth. Accordingly, the combination of penicillin- ciprofloxacin seems to be a satisfactory substituent for penicillin- streptomycin combination for controlling bacterial contaminants in diluted bull semen without impairing semen characteristics.

Evaluation of changes in spermiogram of Shika Brown® Breeder cocks fed dietary levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) seedmeal

This study evaluated the effects of varying levels of Baobab seed-meal (BSM) on spermiogram of Shika Brown® breeder cocks. Thirty apparently healthy cocks aged 30 weeks with average body weight of 1.78 ± 0.03 kg were used for this study. They were acclimatized and randomly divided into three groups of 10 each. Group A (control), fed 0% BSM growers diet, groups B, (5%) and group C, (10%) BSM diets. Semen samples were collected from each cock twice weekly for 28 days and spermiogram evaluated. Results indicated significant (P< 0.05) difference for mean volume, percentage live spermatozoa, sperm gross motilities and concentration between the treatment groups (B and C) and the control group (A). Mean abnormal sperm of cocks in groups B and C were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to group A. It was concluded that BSM is likely to improve semen characteristics in breeder cocks. Therefore, it is recommended that BSM at 5% and 10% is safe and should be incorporated into breeder cocks diet by farmers for enhanced semen characteristics. Keywords: Baobab, Shika Brown®, spermiogram, semen, breeder