Seminal characteristics roosters fed diets supplemented with different oils and vitamin E

The objective of this study was evaluate breeding and productive performance of Lohmann- LSL roosters. A total of 112 breeding roosters from 16 to 32 weeks of age were allotted to a randomized block design in a 3 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, with three sources of oil (soybean, canola and sunflower in 3% of inclusion) and two levels of antioxidant (200 and 400 mg of vitamin E/kg of diet) and the control diet (without oil and 0 mg of supplementation of vitamin E). The experimental diets were made based on corn and soybean meal. At 28 and 29 weeks, semen collection was performed for evaluation of sperm motility, semen volume, concentration and number of total cells. At 29 weeks of age, semen collection was performed to evaluate sperm morphology, rate of osmotic resistance and heat-resistance of spermatozoa. Four roosters per treatment were slaughtered at 30 weeks of age for removal of the testes which were weighted and a sample was obtained for evaluation of the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium, diameter and the population of seminiferous tubule cells. Blood samplings were collected for evaluation of triglycerides and cholesterol. During the experimental period from 16 to 30 weeks, feed intake and total weight gain were evaluated. The true fertility test was performed at 32 weeks of age. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance using the SAEG program. Significant interaction (P<0.05) was found between sources of oil and the levels of vitamin E as well as among the sources of oils for total weight gain, seminiferous epithelium thickness and body weight at 30 weeks of age. Significant difference (P<0.05) was verified among the levels of vitamin E for the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and body weight at 30 weeks of age. It should be concluded that any ource of oil used in this study may be added to the breeding rooster diet without the need to increase the levels of vitamin E.