Objectives: This study evaluated the increase in fertility rates and the effect on the volume of ejaculate in Harco male cockerels treated with Aloe vera gel extract.
Materials and Methods: Fifteen sexually matured Harco strain Plymouth Rock cockerels (25 weeks old; ≥2.5 kg) were used for the study. The male cockerels were first used as control (pre-treatment) and later divided into three equal groups. 3%, 4%, and 5% Aloe vera gel extracts were administered in 10 ml of clean water for 14 days. Semen was collected from the control on day 8 (first-week post-treatment) and day 15 (second-week post-treatment) using the abdominal massage method.
Results: The mean sperm motility (%) for the first week post-treatment was 90.00 ± 0.82, 90.00 ± 0.82, 86.67 ± 0.64, and 84.00 ± 0.31 for control, 3%, 4%, and 5% Aloe vera gel extract-treated cockerels, respectively. The mean sperm motility (%) for the second-week post-treatment was 90.00 ± 0.65, 84.00 ± 0.33, 84.00 ± 0.33, and 86.00 ± 0.44 for control, 3%, 4%, and 5% Aloe vera gel extract-treated cockerels, respectively. The difference in sperm motility across groups for both the first- and second-week post-treatment was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean total abnormal spermatozoa (%) for the first-week post-treatment was 5.89 ± 2.00, 38.00 ± 2.00, 41.50 ± 2.00, and 41.03 ± 2.00 for the control group, 3%, 4%, and 5% Aloe vera gel extract treated cockerels, respectively. The mean total abnormal spermatozoa (%) for the second-week post-treatment was 5.89 ± 0.76, 19.11 ± 0.76, 11.68 ± 0.76, and 13.02 ± 0.76 for the control group, 3%, 4%, and 5% for Aloe vera gel extract-treated cockerels, respectively. The difference in total abnormal spermatozoa across groups for both the first- and second-week post-treatment was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Aloe vera seems to have no detrimental effect on sperm motility, but a high percentage of sperm abnormalities was observed. Therefore, we recommend that the Aloe vera gel extract not be included in the breeder’s diet.
Key words: Aloe vera; Harco cockerel; fertility rate; morphology; sperm
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