Dietary Supplementation of Fish Oil Improves The Semen Parameters in Aged Broiler Breeder Roosters

Background: Reproductive performance is an important fac-tor in breeder poultry production. Between different factors, Age is one of the important issue affecting fertility of breeder’s roosters. While fertility performance in rooster peaks around 32 weeks of age, it significantly reduces from 45 weeks onward. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play crucial roles in bio-logical functions related to reproduction and fertility. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids (FA) have a great impact on the reproduc-tive performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dietary fish oil (n-3) on the semen parameters and reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four Ross 308 roosters from 30 to 45 weeks (eight roosters per treatment) were assigned into three treatments: 1) basal diet as control group, 2) basal diet supplemented 0.5% fish oil, and 3) basal diet supplemented with 1.5% fish oil. All the diets protected with vitamin E as an antioxidant. Roosters were fed their diets for 105 days. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motil-ity and viability were assessed biweekly.Results: The highest percentage of total and progressive motili-ty were obtained in group with 0.5% fish oil (P<0.05). Viability, semen volume and sperm concentration were not significantly affected by the dietary fish oil (P<0.05).Conclusion: It can be concluded that dietary fish oil improves rooster sperm parameters and reproductive performance in aged broiler breeder roosters. This strategy could be a suitable meth-od to preserve the fertility performance.

Keywords:

Sperm , Fertility , PUFA , Omega-3 Fatty Acids