Abstract

The research aims to study the sperm quality of local Ettawah goat fed with three day old green bean. Sixteen males of local Ettawah goats that are one and half year old were used in this study, with one female as the libido inducer. Randomized studies were designed using four kinds of treatment groups arranged in four trial blocks. However, there were four dietary treatments: K diet without sprout was used as the control diet; PI diet contains 1 g sprout/kg body weight; PII diet contains 2 g sprout/kg; and PIII contains 3 sprout/kg body weight. Four goats were allocated to each treatment diet and all goats underwent four times sperm collection during a seven day period. Variables recorded were sperm motility, concentration, and sperm liveability percentages, while scrotum size and body weight gain were measured as the supporting data. The data obtained were analyzed statistically following analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were significant differences, and the Duncan's multiple range test was used to observe the level of their influence on the treatments. The results indicated that the use of green pea in the diets significantly increased (P < 0.01) motility and sperm liveability. Decreasing sperm concentration was observed on goats receiving 1 g sprout/kg body weight, but followed by inconsiderable increase on goats receiving 2 and 3 g sprout/kg body weight. It could be concluded that the use of three day old green pea sprout in the diets increased goat sperm quality, especially in the case of motility and sperm liveability, but did not increase sperm concentration, scrotum size, and body weight gain.

Key words: Local Ettawah goat, spermatozoa quality, scrotum size, body weight gain, green bean sprout.