Effect of Eggshell as a Calcium Source of Breeder Cock Diet on Semen Quality

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of calcium source (coarse limestone, fine limestone and grounded eggshell) in breeder cock diets on feed intake and semen quality. Fifteen Arbor Acres breeder cocks at 61 weeks of age were randomly allotted into 3 treatments of 5 replications, in Randomized complete block design. T1 (control group); coarse limestone: fine limestone (50:50), T2; coarse limestone: egg shell (50:50) and T3; egg shell (100). Body weight were recorded weekly, feed intake were recorded daily. Ejaculates were collected by abdominal massage method twice weekly to evaluate semen quality. The results showed that body weight and feed intake were not significantly different (P>0.05). Semen quality were evaluated with sperm concentration, sperm motility, live sperm, abnormal sperm were not significantly different (P>0.05). In conclusion, grounded egg shell can be used as calcium source in breeder cock diet with normal feed intake and semen quality.