Effects of year, season and diet on semen characteristics of indigenous Strains of Turkey in Bauchi, Nigeria

Experiment was conducted at the research farm of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi to investigate the effect of year, season and diet on semen characteristics of indigenous strains of turkey over a period of 24 months (Jan 2005 – Dec. 2006). Jan – Mar, April – June, July – Sept, Oct – Dec; 2599ME/Kcal/14%CP; 2555ME/Kcal/18%CP, 2511ME/Kcal/22%CP, 2466ME/Kcal/26%CP being season and diet I, II, III and IV respectively. Parameters considered were liveweight, volume, concentration, motility, alive: death ratio, percentages normal and abnormal sperm cells. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (General Linear Model). The results show that semen colour and motility were higher and significant (P<0.001) in favour of year I while volume, concentration and percentage dead were in favour of year II. No significant difference was observed between years in liveweight, percentage live, percentages normal and abnormal. Highly significant (P<0.001) seasonal difference was observed in all the parameters considered. Higher liveweight, concentration and motility of 7.66 ± 1.00kg, 6.18 ± 36.68 x 109 and 1.79 ± 0.79 (season IV); best volume and colour of 0.23 ± 0.11ml and 1.46 ± 0.50 (season III); higher percentage dead and abnormal of 5.37 ± 0.37 and 24.62 ± 1.10 (season II); poor percentage live and normal of 70.00 ± 1.11 and 71.38 ± 5.90 (season I) were obtained. Similarly diet III gave significantly (P<0.001) higher liveweight of 7.69 ± 3.48kg.Also diet II gave significantly (P<0.001) higher semen volume of 0.28 ±0.10ml and best colour and motility of 1.31 ± 0.48 and 1.35 ± 0.55. However, semen concentration, percentages live and dead; normal and abnormal were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. The study revealed the best season and diet which can lead to increase in reproductive efficiency of indigenous strains of turkey in Bauchi, Nigeria.