Dietary supplementation with sesame seeds to improve semen quality of Ho cocks

 
group from weeks 1-10 (Figures 5 and 6, 
respectively). Concerning the abnormal 
spermatozoa trait, significant improvement in the 
group fed 7% SS was observed compared to the 
control (Figure 7). 
Chicken spermatozoa are rich in PUFAs 
which make them vulnerable to oxidative stress 
and lipid peroxidation (Surai et al., 1998; Eid et 
al., 2006) and therefore, reduce their motility 
and fertility (Sanocka & Kurpisz, 2004; Khan, 
2011). To lessen chicken spermatozoa quality 
loss, different antioxidants have been 
investigated. Lycopene, a carotenoid existing in 
vegetables and fruits, showed a positive effect 
on semen volume and sperm concentration of 
broiler breeder males when supplemented in 
drinking water (Mangiagalli et al., 2010). 
Likewise, dietary ginger powder improved 
Nguyen Thi Xuan et al. (2019) 
382 Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences 
sperm forward motility and live sperm 
percentage, and decreased abnormal sperm in 
aged breeder cocks (Akhlaghi et al., 2014a). It 
was also previously reported that sperm 
concentration and sperm membrane integrity 
were significantly enhanced in aging Ross 308 
breeder cocks fed dried apple pomace (Akhlaghi 
et al., 2014b). Moreover, positive effects were 
established on semen concentration, sperm 
forward motility and viability, semen volume, 
Table 3. Semen quality characteristics during the experimental period 
Parameter 
Control 
(n = 60) 
5% SS 
(n = 60) 
7% SS 
(n = 60) 
P-value 
Mean SE Mean SE Mean SE 
Semen volume (mL) 0.82b 0.03 0.91ab 0.04 1.02a 0.04 0.000 
Sperm concentration (109 sperms mL-1) 2.81b 0.17 3.17ab 0.15 3.68a 0.19 0.002 
Sperm motility (%) 70.00 1.47 73.29 1.44 72.00 1.15 0.54 
Mass movement 3.26 0.03 3.22 0.05 3.31 0.06 0.59 
Semen pH 7.60 0.03 7.53 0.03 7.53 0.02 0.45 
Abnormal spermatozoa (%) 11.04a 0.12 10.74ab 0.12 10.51b 0.12 0.01 
Note: Different superscripts within a row indicate a significant difference (P <0.05).
Figure 2. Semen volume (mL) in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of sesame seeds per cock, 
and 7% SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. Values are expressed as means ± SE. 
Figure 3. Sperm concentration (x 109 sperm mL-1) in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of 
sesame seeds per cock, and 7% SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. 
Values are expressed as means ± SE. 
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
Week 1-2 Week 3-4 Week 5-6 Week 7-8 Week 9-10
S
e
m
e
n
v
o
lu
m
e
(m
L
)
Control 5% SS 7% SS
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
Week 1-2 Week 3-4 Week 5-6 Week 7-8 Week 9-10S
p
e
rm
 c
o
n
c
e
n
tr
a
ti
o
n
 (
x
 1
0
9
s
p
e
rm
 m
L
-1
)
Control 5% SS 7% SS
Dietary supplementation with sesame seeds to improve semen quality of Ho cocks 
 383 
Figure 4. Sperm motility (%) in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of sesame seeds per cock, 
and 7% SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. 
Values are expressed as means ± SE.
Figure 5. Mass movement (%) in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of sesame seeds per cock, 
and 7% SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. 
Values are expressed as means ± SE. 
Figure 6. Semen pH in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of sesame seeds per cock, and 7% 
SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. Values are expressed as means ± SE. 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Week 1-2 Week 3-4 Week 5-6 Week 7-8 Week 9-10
S
p
e
rm
 m
o
ti
lit
y
 (
%
)
Control 5% SS 7% SS
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
Week 1-2 Week 3-4 Week 5-6 Week 7-8 Week 9-10
M
a
s
s
 m
o
v
e
m
e
n
t
Control 5% SS 7% SS
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
Week 1-2 Week 3-4 Week 5-6 Week 7-8 Week 9-10
S
e
m
e
n
 p
H
Control 5% SS 7% SS
Nguyen Thi Xuan et al. (2019) 
384 Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences 
Figure 7. Abnormal spermatozoa (%) in the studied groups (control: no supplementation, 5% SS: receiving 5% of sesame seeds 
per cock, and 7% SS: receiving 7% of sesame seeds per cock) during the 10 weeks of semen analysis. 
Values are expressed as means ± SE. 
and sperm plasma membrane functionality when 
feeding rosemary leaf powder to breeder cocks 
(Borghei-Rad et al., 2017). 
In the current study, the improvements 
observed are possibly associated with the high 
levels of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant 
lignans (phytoestrogens) in sesame products 
(Shittu & Bankole, 2007). Amini et al. (2013) 
reported that sesame seed intake (30% of total 
diet) improved testicular parameters (number of 
epithelium cells and percentage volume of 
epithelial, lumen, and interstitial of these 
tubules, P <0.0001), increased LH concentration 
(P <0.03), increased fertility, and increased 
sperm production in male Wistar rats. 
According to Dimitrous (2006), sesame seeds 
and sesame lignans could also work to enhance 
the activity of vitamin E to potentially protect 
low-density lipoproteins against oxidative 
damage. In addition, dietary vitamin E and 
organic selenium have been shown to have a 
synergistic effect in reducing lipid peroxidation 
and enhancing the antioxidative status of 
chicken semen, therefore, improving the 
spermatozoa count and number of live 
spermatozoa (Ebeid, 2012). 
In our study, no significant differences were 
shown regarding sperm motility, mass 
movement, and semen pH between the group 
receiving 5% SS and the group receiving 7% SS 
per cock. These results propose that the effects 
of sesame seeds are articulated throughout 
spermatogenesis by providing antioxidant 
substances. 
Conclusions 
Semen quality characteristics were 
improved in Ho cocks by supplementing their 
diet with sesame seeds. Semen volume and 
sperm concentration were increased and 
abnormal spermatozoa were reduced in Ho 
chickens receiving 7% of sesame seeds in their 
diets. Therefore, dietary supplementation with 
sesame seeds is recommended in terms of male-
savings to enhance the reproductive and 
economic efficiencies. 
Acknowledgments 
We would like to thank the AI Program 
between L’Académie de Recherche et 
d’Enseignement supérieur Commission de la 
Coopération au Développement (ARES-CCD) 
and Vietnam National University of Agriculture 
(VNUA), and VNUA (Grant No. T2018-02-13) 
for providing the financial support for this 
research. 
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