Dietary levels of Protein, Calcium and Vitamin E are known to have significant effect on the production and reproduction characteristics of adult breeder birds. The current study was conducted on thirty-two broiler breeder males (Nandanam Broiler) to assess their semen qualities as influenced by dietary protein, calcium and vitamin-E levels. They were fed ad libitum breeder mash containing 12 or 18 percent protein, 1 or 3 percent calcium and 10 or 40 mg/kg of vitamin-E from 24 week onwards. The experimental design conducted was 2 × 2 × 2 on factorial basis. The individual semen analysis was carried out in triplicates during 26 and 36 weeks of age. Semen analysis like volume, color and consistency, sperm motility, semen pH, Sperm concentration, live sperms, abnormal sperms and MBRT were carried out. Cockerels fed 12 percent protein evinced consistently superior semen qualities compared to the birds fed with 18% protein. Most of the semen traits were slightly in favour of cockerels fed with higher calcium level (3%). However, dietary vitamin-E levels did not show significant variations in semen quality traits

Semen quality, semen volume, broiler breeder, protein, calcium, vitamin E

The findings of the study concludes to a point that dietary inclusion of Crude Protein, Calcium and Vitamin E has definite effect on the semen parameters of the male broiler breeders. Since, the protein part of the diet plays a major part in determining the cost of feed, lower protein diet (12%) can be sufficient for optimum reproductive performance irrespective availability of dietary Calcium and Vitamin E. However, higher Calcium and Higher Vitamin effects the semen qualities, but the lower levels of Vitamin E (10mg/kg) is sufficient for optimum semen characteristics

S.T. Selvan (2024). Influence of Dietary Protein, Calcium and Vitamin-E on the Semen Qualities of Broiler Breeder Males in an Organised Farm. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(6): 217-220