The effect of dietary supplementation of l-arginine on qualitative characteristics and fatty acid profile of aged broiler breeder roosters’ sperm

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of L-arginine on qualitative characteristics and fatty acid profile of Ross 308 aged broiler breeder roosters’ sperm. Twelve breeder roosters at age of 52 week were used in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replicates in each treatment for eight consecutive weeks. Experimental groups were consisting diets with levels of 0.52 (Ross recommendation 308), 0.68 and 0.83 present of arginine amino acids. Semen collection was performed every 14 days and in weeks 54, 56, 58 and 60 were tested. At the end of the trial, fatty acid profile of sperm was also evaluated. On week 56, semen volume in roosters with 0.68 present arginine was higher than other treatments (P<0.05). On week 60, levels of 0.52 and 0.68 percent arginine in semen volume, percentage of  total and progressive motility were higher than the level of 0.83 percent of arginine (P<0.05). On week 58, the percentage of abnormal sperm were lower in 0.68 and 0.83 percent arginine treatment compared to 0.52 percent arginine (P<0.05). Semen concentration, sperm plasma membrane functionality and sperm fatty acid profile were not affected by treatments used in this study. It can be concluded that 0.68 percent of arginine (30% higher than recommendation) of diet improve some qualitative sperm parameters in aged broiler breeder roosters.