The Quality of KUB Rooster Sperm with Vitamin E and C Supplementation During Room Temperature Storage

Antioxidant supplementation to semen extenders can help to maintain rooster sperm quality. This study determined how vitamins E and C affected the quality of KUB sperm at
room temperature. Semen collection from 12 KUB roosters used dorso abdominal massage method, twice a week. Semen samples were then diluted using LR-EY extender with three treatments: LR-EY without antioxidant as the control, LR-EY supplemented 0.05 mg/ml vitamin E, and 0.2 mg/ml vitamin C. The diluted semen samples were then stored at room temperature, then motility and viability were examined at 0, 1st, 2nd, and 4th hour. The results showed that the percentage of motility between treatment groups and time points differed not significantly (P>0.05). However, vitamin E supplementation had a significant (P<0,05) effect on the percentage of viability in the 2nd and 4th hour. Supplementation of vitamin E 0.05 mg/ml was able to maintain the viability of KUB rooster sperm at 2nd hour (88.75 ± 1.50%) and 4th hour (84.75 ± 2.63%). It can be concluded that vitamin C cannot maintain sperm quality significantly, but vitamin E can preserve the viability of KUB rooster sperm significantly at room temperature.

Keywords: KUB rooster, Semen quality, Vitamin E and C