<i>TAMARINDUS INDICA</i> PULP SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES SEMEN QUALITY AND OXIDATIVE RESISTANCE IN NOILER ROOSTERS DURING SHORT-TERM LIQUID STORAGE

This study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) pulp concentration (TPC) in drinking water on semen quality parameters of Noiler roosters under Sudan Savanna ecological conditions. Thirty-six sexually mature Noiler roosters were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (n=9 per group) in a completely randomized design: 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15 g TPC/L of drinking water. Semen was collected weekly over six weeks following a four-week adaptation period. Evaluated parameters included semen volume, pH, color, sperm motility, viability (live/dead ratio), morphology, and concentration, assessed both fresh and after short-term storage at 5°C for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. Tamarind pulp supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced semen quality in a dose-dependent manner. The 15 g/L treatment produced the highest semen volume (1.07 ± 0.05 mL), sperm motility (92.22 ± 1.69%), live sperm percentage (96.67 ± 0.88%), and normal morphology (95.00 ± 1.60%), representing improvements of 26%, 23%, 12%, and 15%, respectively, over the control. During storage, TPC-treated groups maintained superior sperm quality up to 6 hours, with the 15 g/L treatment preserving motility (5.25 ± 0.88%) and viability (9.50 ± 0.88%) compared to controls (2.50 ± 0.88% and 5.25 ± 0.88%, respectively). All treatments showed drastic quality decline beyond 12 hours of storage. Dietary tamarind pulp at 15 g/L of drinking water optimizes semen quality and short-term storage potential in Noiler roosters, likely through its antioxidant properties. This natural phytogenic additive offers a cost-effective strategy to enhance poultry reproductive performance in hot tropical environments, potentially improving fertility and hatchability in commercial and smallholder production systems.