ABSTRACT

The study was to assess the effect of zinc on the semen characteristics of large white boar intensively managed. Eight 9-10 months old large white boars were randomized into two treatment groups of four animals per group. The result revealed significant influence P<0.05) in semen concentration (45.06±1.79x1071mm3 and 32.04±2.57x10 1mm3), percentage of bent tail (2.89±0.45% and 3.42±0.11%), percentage of tailless spermatozoa (2.6 1±0.29% and 4.00±0.12%) and percentage of cytoplasmic droplet (1.61±0.11% and 2.46±0.23 %) for the zinc fed and control group respectively. Other traits—semen volume (93.17±5.06 ml and 99.42±5.70 ml), percentage progressive motility (78.56±3.29% and 78.2 1±1.00%), percentage of abnormal head (2.33±0.00% and 2.79±0.32%) and percentage of live spermatozoa (77.11±1.41% and 73.63±1.33%) were not affected significantly (P>0.05) for the zinc fed and control group respectively. Haematological indices to determine the effect of zinc on the physiological status of the animals were also evaluated and the result showed significant effect (P<0.05) on Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) at 18.99±0.30 picogram (pg) and 17.44±0.44 pg for zinc treated (T2) and control group (Ti) respectively. Significant differences (P><0.05) were also detected on Packed Cell Volume (38.13±0.77% and 33.67±0.46% for T2and T1group • respectively) and Haemoglobin (Hb) Concentration count (12.18±0.44 gldl and 10.36±0.07 g/dl for T2and T1group respectively). Treatment effect on Red Blood Cell count (6.40±0. 17x 106/nmi3and 5.90±0.13 x106/mm3), Mean Corpuscular Volume (59.48±0.30 fermtolitre (fi) and 57.15±0.86 fi ), White Blood Cell count (16.93±0.17 x 1 03/mm3and 15.89±0.22 x 103/mm3), and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (3 1.95±0.53% and 30.78±0.39%) for T2and T1group respectively, were not influenced significantly (P>0.05),In conclusion, the result of this study indicated that zinc oxide supplementation in the feed of breeding boar holds a promise of enhancing seminal traits towards a better semen output in the account of planning mating under artificial insemination programme.