The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of dietary calcium on the body weight and reproductive variables (semen volume, number of spermatic cells and fertility) in broiler breeder males with or without comb. A total of 32 males Cobb 500 were used, 50% combed and 50% not combed males. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 2x2, with two comb conditions (with or without) and two levels of calcium (0.90 e 1.35%). Semen was collected using the American methods and number of spermatic cells was determined in a Neubauer chamber. At 42, 43 and 44 weeks of age, 48 females were artificially inseminated by treatment, twice a week, with dosage of 0.05mL fresh semen. After 21 day of incubation the unhatched eggs were broken and examined macroscopically to analyze the fertility. The roosters that were fed with 0.90 and 1.35% of calcium on the diets had similar weight. Besides, at 31st of age, males with comb that were fed with 0.90% of calcium on the diet presented higher number of spermatic cells (3.00x10(6) 0.90% with comb intact against 9.46x10(5) 0.90% without comb). The 0.90% calcium level was enough to promote a good reproductive performance in broiler breeder males. Males with comb intact had better fertility than the males without comb.
fertility; poultry; spermatic cells; semen volume
