The reproductive performance of breeder cocks fed cottonseed cake-based diets

Abstract

Histology of the tests of breeder cocks fed replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% of cottonseed meal (CSM) for soybean meal (SBM) in five different breeder diets for fifteen weeks were investigated in completely randomized design. Chemical analyses were carried out to determine the crude protein (CP) and gossypol content of CSM. The 23 week-old breeder cocks were fed the experimental diets for 15 weeks, euthanized and their testes removed for histological studies. The determined CP and gossypol content of CSM were 35.11% and 570 g/ton respectively. The daily sperm production (DSP) by the breeder cocks was depressed when CSM dietary inclusion was above 50% with DSP values ranging from 1.5x109 to 2.9x 109 mL. the investigation showed that replacing 75% SBM with CSM was not injurious to the non-reproductive health of the breeder cocks. However, CMS may not replace more than 50% of SBM for breeder cocks because of the depressing effect of gossypol on sperm production when this level is exceeded.