Dietary organic zinc and selenium supplementation improves semen quality and fertility in layer breeders

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of organic zinc and selenium in breeder male diet on semen quality and fertility parameters. Thirty Dahlem Red males, 29 weeks old, were equally distributed into three treatment groups and supplemented with organic zinc (zinc proteinate) and organic selenium (yeast source) - group 1 (0 Zn / 0 Se), group 2 (100 mg/kg Zn / 0.15 mg/kg Se), group 3 (100 mg/kg Zn / 0.35 mg/kg Se) for 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation of 100 mg/kg Zn / 0.35 mg/kg Se combination significantly (P < 0.05) improved the MTT dye reduction value and percent live sperm. However, the percent fertility was significantly improved in both the treatment groups supplemented with zinc and selenium. The hatchability was not affected by mineral supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of organic zinc and selenium improved the semen quality and fertility in layer breeders.