Semen characteristics and scrotal size of pubertal West African dwarf rams fed diets containing (Bitter kola) Seed Meal

Abstract

The effect of the Garcinia Kola Seed Meal (GKSM) on the spermatozoa attributes and scrotal characteristics of West African dwarf rams was assessed in a 16 week study. Twelve West Africa dwarf rams weighing between 12.50 and 13.80kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Rams were fed experimental diets for 16 weeks. The diets included; 0% GKSM, 2.5 % GKSM, 5.0% GKSM and 7.5% GKSM inclusion levels as treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Each treatment had three replicates while semen was collected once from all replicates in the treatments using electro ejaculator and assessed for semen colour, semen pH, semen temperature, sperm concentration, mass activity, sperm motility and live sperm cells. The results showed that scrotal circumference ranged from 18.16 to 21.00cm and scrotal length from 8.60 to 10.30cm but did not differ significantly (p >0.05) across treatments. Sperm motility (80.00 – 84.16 %) and sperm volume (0.29 – 0.43 mL) were not significantly different (p >0.05). Rams on treatment I had the highest sperm concentration of 2.59 x 10 . Despite the reproductive potential benefits of Garicinia kola, the inclusion of GKSM up to 7.5% in the diets of rams used in this study did not have any direct or adverse effects on the sperm motility, live sperm cells, sperm volume, and scrotal characteristics of West African dwarf rams.