The effect of adding vitamin c and e in native chicken semen extender storaged at temperature 4 oc on semen quality and egg fertility

Abstract

The objective of this research was to verify the addition of vitamin E (α-tocopherol)
and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as antioxidants and the storage at 4oC on semen quality and fertility. Semen was collected and pooled once time every 3 days from 10 cockerels aged 56 weeks. It was diluted into Buffer phosphate and devided into seven (7) treatments, i.e ; control; vitamin E (α- tocopherol 0.1 mM, 0.3 mM, 0.5 mM), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid 2,500 µg/mL; 5,000 µg/mL; 7,500 µg/mL), and then was stored at 4oC for 72 hours. Semen quality was evaluated after 0 hour, 6 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hours storage. Data were analyzed by analyses of variance split subject, and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). A total of 24 hens of Lohman Brown 6 commercial layers were inseminated with 400 x 10 sperm for chicken fertility trials. The result showed that diluents treatment gave significantly effect (P≤0.05) on pH and sperm abnormality, but not different on motility and viability. Stored sperm gave significantly effect (P≤0.05) on motility, pH, viability, and sperm abnormality. Vitamin E improved the fertilizing ability until 93.10 ± 5,98 % of semen stored for 6 hours at 4oC at the dose of 0,3 mM of semen diluent. It can be concluded that addition of vitamin E to extended chicken semen keeps motility, viability, and sperm normal morphology after 72 hours storage at 4oC. In contrast, vitamin C decrease motility, pH, and sperm
viability.