Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acid and rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) supplementation on semen quality, sperm fatty acids and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dietary fish oil (FO) and rooibos supplementation on semen quality, fatty acids composition and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders. Seventy-two 47-week-old Ross broiler breeder roosters were randomly assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements to include two FO concentrations (0% and 2%) and 3 rooibos concentrations (0%, 1.5% and 3%) for 13 weeks consecutive. The different diets affected semen parameters significantly (p < 0.05), except for the semen concentration and abnormality of the sperm. The sperm of the FO and 3% rooibos-treated group showed better motility and viability when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The susceptibility of semen to lipid peroxidation was increased in roosters fed the rooibos-free diets (p < 0.05), but it was reduced (p < 0.05) when the diet was supplemented with 1.5% and 3% rooibos. In addition, at 64 weeks, the highest concentration of testosterone was observed in the roosters fed a diet that included 2% FO and 3% rooibos (p < 0.05); however, the difference in testosterone levels between Week 52 and Week 64 was not significant (p > 0.05). The fertility rate of collected eggs from the FO and 3% rooibos group was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the other groups at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of FO along with rooibos improved seminal quality and reproduction performance in aged roosters.

Sperm flow cytometric parameters, antioxidant status, and testicular histomorphology in roosters fed diets supplemented with camphor.

Genetic selection based on the high growth rate and consequently high slaughter weight in broiler chickens has caused many problems in broiler breeders. A negative correlation between growth and reproductive traits has declined semen quality and fertility in roosters. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of camphor levels on some reproductive parameters included semen parameters, antioxidant status, and testicular development in broiler breeder roosters. Thirty-five ROSS 308 broiler breeder roosters were divided into 5 groups to receive camphor (C) levels: C0, C50, C250, C750, and C1000 ppm for 12 consecutive weeks (31-43 wk). Body weight, seminal volume, sperm concentration, and percentage of live and morphologically normal sperm were not affected by diets (P > 0.05), however, significantly were changed by bird age over the experiment (P < 0.05). Semen quality factor (SQF) significantly was affected by both diets and age (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial activity, apoptotic-like changes, and DNA fragmentation were improved in the groups fed camphor levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Testes weight (left, right, and combined weights) and gonadosomatic index were increased linearly by the camphor supplementation (P < 0.05). The serum activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was not affected by treatments, however, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were significantly higher in C50, C250, and C750, respectively (P < 0.05). The lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testes and liver samples was observed in C750 (P < 0.05). Excluding the number of Sertoli cells and blood vessels, other histomorphological traits of testes showed one of the linear or quadratic responses to the camphor levels (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that camphor as an antioxidant source may improve reproduction performance in roosters.

Improving seminal quality and reproductive performance in male broiler breeder by supplementation of camphor.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary camphor levels as a medicinal feed additive to improve semen quality, antioxidant capacity, reproductive hormones, and reproduction performance in roosters. For this purpose, thirty-five 29-wk-old Ross 308 broiler breeder roosters randomly were assigned to five experimental groups (seven birds/group) and received five doses of camphor containing 0, 50, 250, 750, and 1000 mg camphor/kg of feed for 12 wk consecutive. Semen quality parameters and motion characteristics of sperm were evaluated every 28 days and semen antioxidant capacity and plasma reproductive hormones concentration were tested at the end of the experiment. Also, at the end of the experiment, reproductive performance was assessed using artificial insemination. Among seminal quality parameters, sperm forward motility (88.96 vs 82.56%) and percentage of abnormal sperm (14.75 vs 15.86%) were improved in roosters fed 50 mg camphor/kg of feed compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Overall percentage of live sperm and plasma membrane integrity exhibited the quadratic responses to the levels of camphor (P < 0.08). The motion characteristics of sperm including progressive motility (28.81 vs 21.77%), average path velocity (VAP, 33.35 vs 26.83 µm/s), progressive velocity (VSL, 19.78 vs 16.48 µm/s), curvilinear line velocity (VCL, 52.87 vs 44.38 µm/s), the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, 2.92 vs 2.46 µm) were improved in roosters fed 50 mg camphor/kg of feed compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, dietary camphor levels linearly increased the percentage of linearity (LIN) and straightness (STR) (P < 0.05). A significant decrease in seminal plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed in birds fed 1000 mg camphor/kg of feed (P < 0.05). Testosterone concentration was considerably increased by doses of 50 and 250 mg camphor/kg of feed compared to control (4.68, 4.79 vs 3.88 ng/mL) (P < 0.05). FSH and LH concentrations were not affected by camphor supplementation (P > 0.05). In the artificial insemination, fertility rate from both 50 mg camphor/kg of feed (88%) and 250 mg camphor/kg of feed (84%) was higher than control (75%) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, low levels of camphor, especially 50 mg camphor/kg of feed, improved seminal characteristics and, reproductive performance of roosters. Further researches are needed on the effect of higher levels of camphor and divulge of underlying mechanism on male's reproductive function.