EFFECT OF DIETARY ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF RABBIT BUCKS. | ||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||
| Article 2, Volume 33, Issue 8, August 2008, Pages 5553-5560 PDF (486.23 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2008.218892 | ||
| Author | ||
| A. A. Baiomy, | ||
| Animal Production Dept., Fac. of Agric., South Valley University, Qena, Egypt . | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The present study was carried out at the Experimental farm of Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, SouthValleyUniversity, Qena during the period from March to April 2008.Thirty matrue New Zealand White rabbit bucks aged 6 months were used, following a completely randomized design with three treatments(Zn levels). First group; fed control ration ,second group fed control ration; supplemented with 75 ppm ZnO and the third group fed control ration supplemented with 150 ppm ZnO . The rabbits were selected immediately after weaning (4 weeks of age) and used in the experiment that extended till 36 weeks of age. The treatments were respectively,0 , 75 and 150 ppm supplemental zinc per one kg ration in the diet. The animal received ZnO in their diets as soon as they were weaned. First semen collection was performed at 28 wks of age, being collected six times weekly per animal. The volume of each ejaculate was registered and an aliquot was separated for further analyses. Mean values of total ejaculate didn't differ(p>0.05) among treatments. Animal fed 75 and 150ppm ZnO presented higher sperm cells concentration compared to the control group. In conclusion this study shows that it is possible to improve the quality of rabbit semen through dietary supplementation of zinc oxide. Key words: reproductive performance; semen, rabbit, supplementation, ZnO. | ||
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