Dietary Protein Levels for Broiler Breeder Males

Abstract

One hundred broiler breeder males were grown to 4 weeks of age on a commercial starter ration. At 29 days of age, 25 males were randomly assigned to 12, 14, 16, or 18% protein diets (isocaloric), which were fed restrictively until 53 weeks of age. The 16% protein diet served as the control group for maintaining body weight; all groups received equal quantities of feed. Semen was evaluated from 10 males per treatment randomly selected at 17 weeks of age. Dietary protein had no significant effect on body weight, semen volume and concentration, number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, or testes weight. A greater percentage of males produced semen when fed the 12 and 14% protein diets in comparison with males given higher protein diets. Results from this cage broiler breeder study indicated that males can be fed 12 and 14% dietary protein on a restricted basis with no adverse effects on body weight, sexual maturation, duration of semen production, or semen quality.