EFFECTS OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION IN SUGARCANE-BASED EXTENDER ON SEMEN QUALITY OF DARAG NATIVE CHICKEN (Gallus gallus domesticus) AT ROOM AND LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE

Abstract

Eleven five-month-old Darag native roosters were used as semen donors to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation in a sugarcane-based extender on semen quality. Semen was pooled and initially assessed for color and consistency; only samples with ≥70% initial motility were processed. Pooled semen was randomly assigned to five treatments: T1 (Ringer’s solution), T2 (sugarcane-based extender, SBE), T3 (SBE with 1% vitamin E), T4 (SBE with 2% vitamin E), and T5 (SBE with 3% vitamin E), and stored at either room (20-25°C) or low (4-9°C) temperatures. Samples were evaluated for motility, viability, and morphologically normal sperm. All treatments stored at low temperatures had the longest shelf life, with motility maintained above 20%. SBE with 1% and 2% vitamin E had significantly higher motility than Ringer’s solution after 8 hours (p=0.011). Treatments with vitamin E showed significantly higher viability than Ringer’s solution after 8 hours (p=0.007), and only 2% and 3% vitamin E treatments were higher after 12 hours (p=0.010). No significant differences in morphology were observed among treatments. This study demonstrates the benefits of vitamin E and sugarcane-based extender in preserving avian semen quality.