Semen quality, sperm variables, blood profile, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of Sinai cockers fed diet supplemented with vitamin E or/and pumpkin seed oil [electronic resource].

Includes bibliographic reference

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of pumpkin seed oil (PSO), vitamin E (Vit. E), or
their combination on semen quality, sperm parameters, health status, and immunity of cockers of Sinai local strain
chicken. Total of 40 cockers (40 weeks old and 1946-1963.5 g LBW) were divided into four groups (10 in each).
In the 1st group, birds were fed basal diet without any supplementation (Control). In the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups, the
control diet was supplemented with 100 mg Vit. E/kg, 1% PSO, and 100 mg Vit. E+1% PSO/kg, respectively. At
the end of the treatment period of 8 weeks, semen was collected twice a week for four weeks from 10 cockers in
each group. All ejaculates were evaluated by CASA analyzerand blood samples were collected. All treatments
improved (P<0.05) semen volume and concentration, the percentages of sperm motility, abnormality, and velocity
parameters compare with control. Also, all treatments increased (P<0.05) plasma testosterone, total protein, , T3,
T4, immunoglobulins, antioxidant capacity, and decreased AST and ALT activities. PSO alone or with Vit. E
increased, hematology, glucose, total lipids, and hatchability, while decreased plasma cholesterol and creatinine
levels. Egg fertility was increased only when chickens were mated only by males treated with Vit. E+PSO
combination.Dietary supplementation with a combination of 100 mg Vit. E+1% PSO had beneficial effects on
semen quality, sperm function, blood testosterone, liver, kidney, and thyroid functions, immunity, egg fertility and
hatchability rates of cockers of Sinai local strain chicken.

Keywords: Sinai chicken, vitamin E, pumpkin, semen, blood profile.

Summary in Arabic