ASSESSMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF SEMEN QUALITY FROM THREE BREEDS OF SHEEP FED SUPPLEMENTED BRACHIARIA DECUMBENS OR DIGITARIA SMUTSII HAY

Authors

  • I. I. Madziga Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • C. A. M. Lakpini Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • S. M. Osuhor Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • A. B. Otaru Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • A. B. Adewuyi Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • F. U. Samuel Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4674

Keywords:

fertility, breed, reproduction, hay type, rams

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess and classify the quality of semen from Balami, Uda and Yankasa breeds of sheep fed Brachiaria decumbens or Digitaria smutsii supplemented hay. Thirty rams, 10 each of Balami, Uda and Yankasa breeds aged 18 months and weighing 24.75, 25.50 and 25.50 kg, accordingly were used. All semen quality traits were influenced by genotype and hay type. Semen taken from rams fed Digtaria smutsii had higher number of live spermatozoa and lower number of abnormal spermatozoa than those fed Brachiaria decumbens hay. Balami rams were superior for semen volume and concentration while Uda rams were superior in normal and live spermatozoa percentage. There was interaction between breed and hay type in most of the traits where rams on D. smutsii hay had higher values than those on B. decumbens. It was therefore, concluded that variation in some semen characteristic of indigenous breeds of sheep was both breed and feed inclined. Hence it is recommended that farmers feed their animals quality forages to improve their reproductive performance.

Author Biographies

I. I. Madziga, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

C. A. M. Lakpini, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

S. M. Osuhor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

A. B. Otaru, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

A. B. Adewuyi, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

F. U. Samuel, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika – Zaria

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Published

2024-07-20

How to Cite

Madziga, I. I. ., Lakpini, C. A. M. ., Osuhor, S. M. ., Otaru, A. B. ., Adewuyi, A. B. ., & Samuel, F. U. . (2024). ASSESSMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF SEMEN QUALITY FROM THREE BREEDS OF SHEEP FED SUPPLEMENTED BRACHIARIA DECUMBENS OR DIGITARIA SMUTSII HAY. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 290–293. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4674

Issue

2023: NSAP 2023 Proceedings

Section

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