Effects of dietary curcumin supplementation on seminal quality indices and fertility rate in broiler breeder roosters

ABSTRACT1. Decreased semen quality is an underlying contributor to age-related subfertility in broiler breeder roosters. This study investigated the effects of dietary curcumin (derived from turmeric) supplementation as an antioxidant source on semen quality and fertility in broiler breeder roosters.2. Twenty-eight Ross 308 roosters were randomly allotted to four groups with seven birds in each and were fed a standard diet supplemented with different levels of curcumin at 0 (C0), 10 (C10), 20 (C20) and 30 (C30) mg/bird per day from 48 through to 61 weeks of age. Body weight and semen quality traits were evaluated on a weekly basis and seminal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a measure of antioxidation status were quantified at one-week intervals during the first 11 weeks of the trial (48–59 weeks of age). Semen samples from last 2 weeks (60 and 61 weeks of age) were used to artificially inseminate to assess the sperm-egg penetration (SP) in perivitelline membrane and fertility rates.3. Except fo...