Chromolaena odorata leaf meal (COLM) has been used to feed poultry without adverse effects on growth, however, studies on its effect on the fertility of local chicken are scarce. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of COLM-based diets on egg fertility, semen characteristic, and tissue biochemistry parameters (Protein, cholesterol, catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration) of Brahma chickens. Sixty hens and fifteen cocks, aged 4-5 months were fed three dietary treatments T0, T1, and T2, as containing 0, 1 and 2% COLM, respectively in five replications for two months. Semen samples were collected once a week by double hand massage technique and semen quality parameters (volume, motility, concentration, and spermatozoa viability) were determined. Data on testicular and epididymis histology and biochemical parameters in testes were also collected during the eighth week of the experiment. During the incubation phase, fertility, and hatchability of eggs, as well as embryonic mortality of fertile eggs were recorded. The semen analysis showed that spermatozoa concentration and spermatozoa motility (p < 0.05) increased significantly with increased COLM supplementation levels. The biochemical analysis showed an increase in protein, cholesterol, and GSH levels while MDA levels decreased in males supplemented with COLM. The fertility percentage for T1 was significantly higher than in the other treatments, while hatchability and mortality of the embryo showed non-significant differences among the groups. The histopathological analysis also revealed a positive effect of the plant on spermatogenesis. Altogether, the addition of COLM up to 1% in local chicken diets improves semen quality, oxidative status level of testes, and egg fertility.
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