Dietary supplementation of grape pomace powder on semen quality, testosterone concentration and hatchability rate in broiler breeders

In this study, the effect of diatary supplementation of gpape pomace poweder (GP) was investigated on semen quality, serum testosterone levels and fertility of rossters in a broiler breeder stock. A total of 240 hens and 24 cocks at 31 weeks of age from Ross 308 strain were divided randomely into three experimental groups with 10 replicate within each (8 hens and 1 cock in each replicated).  From week 32 to week 41, birds in the control group were given the standard basal diet, but in the treatment groups fed the basal diet supplemented with either 1.5 or 3% of dried grape pomece on dry matter basis. At the end of experiment (week 41) some of the semen quality parameters, serum testosterone levels and the amount of hatchability was investigated in each experimental group. The results indicated that supplementation of grape pomace  had no significant effect on semen volume and sperm concentration of cocks (P>0.05). Sperm motility, progresive motility and viability was higher significantly in the roosters receiving 1.5 or 3% diatary GP compared to the control (P<0.05), but sperm morphology and plasma membrane integrity were not affected by dietary treatment. Moereover, 3% GP supplementation effectively (P<0.05) increased serum testosterone levels and hatchability percentage compared to the control group. In conclusion, the diatary addition of  antioxidant fibers such as GP may improve rooster semen quality and concequently hatchability in the broiler breeder stocks.