Sperm Quality of Hybrid Chicken Affected by Propolis, Honey, or Royal Jelly as Organic Diluent Materials and Storage Periods during Sperm Preservation

Abstract

The increasing population programs of cross-breeding chickens (hybrid chickens) need to be supported by breeding strategies that depends on artificial insemination programs (AIP). Sperm diluent is one of the important factors that support the survival of spermatozoa during the implementation of AIP. For this purpose, an effective and efficient diluent to maintain the quality of chicken sperm in an adequate period time is needed by chicken breeders. The present study aimed to determine the effect of adding organic diluent material (propolis, honey, or royal jelly) and storage time during sperm preservation on macroscopic and microscopic quality of hybrid chicken sperm. The results of the study were expected to be useful to provide an alternative organic diluent for poultry sperm supporting the program of artificial insemination especially in the development of hybrid chicken populations resulting by cross-breeding with local chickens. The experiment was designed by a completely randomized factorial design consisting of 2 factors: differences in the types of organic diluent materials (OD) and storage time (S). The type of organic diluent materials was propolis organic matter, honey, and royal jelly. Chicken sperm was stored with different storage periods: 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours at room temperature. The result of the present study indicated that different organic diluents of chicken sperm resulted in a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in all micro and macroscopic parameters except the total of sperm abnormality. Honey as sperm diluents for hybrid chicken sperm was able to maintain normal sperm concentration and viability up to 24 hours of storage period at room temperature compared to propolis and royal jelly treatments. Honey was able to maintain the concentration of total sperm of up to 36 hours of 109.67 x 10 7. The different treatments of organic diluents caused very significant differences in all micro and macroscopic parameters except on sperm abnormality. However, either honey, propolis, or royal jelly reduced total abnormality mortality of hybrid chicken sperm. It was concluded that honey was able to maintain sperm quality, concentration, and sperm viability of hybrid chickens better than propolis and royal jelly.