Effects of supplemental XXXX in diet of @entity5872 on male reproduction, fertility and hatchability.

@entity251 @entity270 @entity2829 @entity25943 @entity1881 @entity4793 @entity1460 @entity5872
1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of feeding higher supplemental @entity270 (VE) concentrations on male reproductive variables, fertility and hatchability of quails. 2. In experiment 1, sixty 5-week-old male quails, reared in individual cages, were fed male breeder diets supplemented with 0, 75, 150, 225 or 300 IU @entity1881 /kg. At 10 weeks, observations on cloacal gland size, foam production, testes weight and blood samples for @entity251 estimation were taken. 3. In experiment 2, 50 male and 50 female cage-reared quails (5 weeks old) were fed male breeder and layer rations, respectively, supplemented with 0, 75, 150, 225 or 300 IU/kg. At 13 weeks, 9 different mating pairs (5 pairs/group) were formed. Group 1 contained one control male and one control female in each of 5 pens. In groups 2 to 5, control males were paired with females on supplements of 75, 150, 225 or 300 IU/kg. In groups 6 to 9, control females were paired with males on supplements of 75, 150, 225 and 300 IU/kg. During subsequent adaptation and egg collection periods, each of 10 d, control layer ration was fed to all groups. All the eggs laid during the 10-d egg collection period were incubated artificially to estimate fertility and hatchability. The trial was repeated at 15 weeks. 4. Adult male quails receiving moderate supplemental VE (75 and 150 IU/kg) had a higher cloacal gland index, quantity of foam secretion, testicular weight and plasma @entity251 than quails fed on either @entity25943 or more highly supplemented diets (225 and 300 IU alpha- @entity4793 /kg). 5. It was concluded that a supplement of 75 IU VE/kg in @entity2829 / @entity1460 diet could provide the best reproductive performance of male breeder quails. Cloacal gland index, quantity of foam secretion, testicular weight and plasma @entity251 can serve as indirect indicators of testicular activity and fertilising ability in quails. Supplemental VE did not affect the fertility and hatchability of male and female @entity5872 .
