Reproductive Characteristics of Growing Boars Fed Diets Containing Raw or Fermented Cotton Seed Cake

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Raw or Fermented Cotton Seed Cake (RCSC or FCSC) on reproductive characteristics of growing boars. Thirty (30) weaner boars (n=6 per treatment) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments arranged in a 2x2 factorial with a control within a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Solid state fermentation (SSF), using Aspergillus niger, was employed to ferment the CSC. The RCSC and FCSC were separately included in diets at 0 (control), 10 and 20% levels. At the end of the 12 weeks feeding trial, three (3) animals per treatment were slaughtered and reproductive organs were carefully dissected out, measured and processed for sperm evaluation. The reproductive parameters evaluated include testicular and epididymal morphometrics, Daily Sperm Production (DSP), Daily Sperm Production per gram testis (DSP/g), Gonadal Sperm Reserve (GSR), sperm count and motility. The results showed that Cotton Seed Cake (CSC) level resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction in testicular weights, lengths and volume. The epididymal weight was significantly (p<0.05) lower for boars that were fed CSC based diets compared to the control group. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in epididymal length was recorded for the boars fed 20% FCSC compared to those fed the control diet. The DSP/g was significantly (p<0.05) higher in boars fed 10% RCSC than those fed other diets. Sperm count and motility, normal and life sperm, GSR, DSP and DSP/g were significantly (p<0.05) lower for boars that were fed FCSC-based diets compared to those fed the control diet and 10% RCSC. It was concluded from this study that feeding RCSC - or FCSC - based diets to growing boar adversely affected the testicular and epididymal morphometrics; however, 10% RCSC in diet did not compromise gonadal sperm characteristics.