SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE STRAINS OF BHUTANESE INDIGENOUS CHICKEN

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to compare the semen characteristics of Seim, Yubjha Naap and Baylaity chicken and correlate semen characteristics with secondary sexual traits. A total of 12 cocks (4 cocks from each population) were used for semen analyses, which included semen volume, semen pH, semen color, sperm concentration, sperm motility and semen mass activity. Semen was collected by abdominal massage method. There was a significant difference in semen volume, concentration and motility among the chicken populations but there was no significant difference in semen color, mass activity and semen pH. Semen colors were all creamy white. The highest semen volume was recorded in Seim (0.55±0.4 mL) and the lowest in Yubjha Naap (0.37±0.02 mL). Seim also had the highest sperm concentration (6.34±0.49 billion mL-1 ) while Yubjha Naap had the lowest (4.45±0.37 billion mL-1 ). Seim had the highest semen motility (75.00±1.22%) while Yubjha Naap (64.25±2.59%) had the lowest motility. The mass activities in Seim, Yubjha Naap and Baylaity were 2.75, 2.5 and 3.75, respectively. All chicken populations had an average pH closer to neutral (Seim-7.12±0.12, Yubjha Naap-7.47±0.09 and Baylaity-7.15±0.06). Semen volume, semen concentration, semen mass activity and semen motility were positively correlated with secondary sexual traits. However, semen pH was negatively correlated with all secondary sexual traits. The strongest correlation (r=0.76) was observed between beak length and semen concentration. The semen of all three strains of indigenous Bhutanese chicken were found suitable for preservation and therefore, can be cryopreserved. Moreover, the secondary sexual traits such as body weight, comb size and beak length can be used to predict semen quality of Bhutanese cocks.