Project Abstract

SEMEN QUALITY AND EGG HATCHABILITY IN LOCAL TURKEY FED DIETS CONTAINING MORINGA OLEIFERA AND GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM LEAF MEAL Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal on semen quality and egg hatchability in local turkey breeds. A total of 60 local turkey toms aged 24 weeks were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups with three replicates per treatment group. The birds were fed diets containing 0% (control), 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% levels of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal for a period of 12 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal significantly improved semen quality parameters in local turkey toms. The birds fed diets containing 5% Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal had the highest sperm concentration, motility, and viability compared to the control group. Furthermore, the birds fed diets with 5% leaf meal had significantly (p < 0.05) lower sperm abnormalities compared to the control and other treatment groups. In terms of egg hatchability, the study revealed that eggs obtained from turkey hens fed diets containing Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal had higher fertility rates and lower embryonic mortality compared to the control group. The highest egg hatchability rate was recorded in the group fed 5% leaf meal, with a significant (p < 0.05) increase compared to the control and other treatment groups. Overall, the results suggest that dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal positively influences semen quality and egg hatchability in local turkey breeds. The inclusion of 5% leaf meal in the diet resulted in the best outcomes in terms of improved semen quality parameters and egg hatchability rates. Therefore, incorporating Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium leaf meal in turkey diets could be a promising strategy to enhance reproductive performance in local turkey production systems.

Project Overview

1.0 Introduction                                                                                                     1

1.1 Background of the study                                                                                   1

1.2 Problem statement                                                                                             3

1.3 Objectives of the study                                                                                       4

1.4 Justification of the study                                                                             5