Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Background and objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age on semen characteristics of arbor acres cocks reared in Sudan.

Materials and Methods: One day old ten male broiler chicks were randomly selected and reared in cages. Temperature was adjusted at 25C^ᵒ and photostimulation program of arbor acres breeder was applied. They were fed pre-starter ration in the first week, starter ration in 2-5 weeks , growing ration in 6-18 weeks, pre-production ration 19-23 weeks and production ration 24- 42 weeks of age . Semen samples were weekly collected from the 22^nd week up to 42^th .Semen samples were evaluated for color, volume (SV), sperm mass motility (MM), percent of individual motility percent (IMP), live sperm (LSP), concentration (SC) and abnormal sperm percent (ASP).

Results: Out of the 230 samples obtained ,197 (85.65%) were creamy and 27 (11.74%) were white milky in consistency, the other 6 (2.61%) samples were turbid and watery. The mean values obtained for SV (0.29±0.02 ml), MM (2.25±0.63) in the 26^th week of age were significantly higher compared to the initial collection values (0.24±0.12/ml), (1.75±0.54 ) respectively where they tended to decrease gradually with advanced age . However, at the 30^th weeks of age the values obtained for IMP (81.62±9.36), LSP (87.70±4.15) and SC (3.21±1.62) were higher, compared to the initial values and decreased with advanced age thereafter. The values obtained for ASP in the 22^nd week of age were significantly higher (9.63±4.26) compared to the following values up to the end of the experiment where a general pattern of reduction was observed.

Conclusions: It is concluded that semen characteristics of Arbor Acres cocks reared in Sudan are within the normal range and are adversely affected by advanced age.