Effects of the carbonated drink as an extender on semen characteristics, fertility and hatchability in Nigerian indigenous chicken

Abstract

Semen extenders are liquid diluents that buffer sperm cells and preserve their fertilizing potentials. The commercial carbonated drink (CD) as an extender was evaluated on semen characteristics, fertility and hatchability in Yoruba ecotype chickens (YECs). The fructose of the CD was 1.52?0.05 mg/ml. Under the conditions of 370Celsius, 5% and 10% of CD were added to the egg yolk citrate solution to make 100%. Semen was obtained from ten matured Yoruba ecotype chicken cocks with an average weight of 1.8?0.2 kg. The semen was pooled in a test tube and added to the extenders for preservation at 0, 30 and 60 minutes, respectively, in a factorial design layout. Percentage motility of sperm cells was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 5% CD inclusion compared with 10% CD inclusion and control. Motility decreased with an increase in preservation time across the treatments. The percentage of dead sperm cells decreased (p<0.05) in 5% CD inclusion when compared with 10% CD inclusion and control. The sluggish sperm percentage increased significantly (p<0.05) with semen preservation time. Fertility and hatchability of eggs were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 5% CD inclusion. It was concluded that carbonated drinks at 5% inclusion in an extender could preserve cock sperm cells for 60 minutes with improved fertility and hatchability of eggs.