The Effect of Liquid Fermented Potato Hash Diet on Testicular Size, Weight and Epididymal Semen Quality of Large White × Landrace Boars

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate testicular size, weight and epididymal semen quality of Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) boars fed fermented liquid potato hash. Diets containing either 200 (LFLPH) g/kg potato hash; 400 (HFLPH) g/kg potato hash or no fermented potato hash (control). Forty-two crossbred boars (LW × LR) weighing (25 ± 2.3 kg) were individually housed and fed ad-lib one of the seven dietary treatments for three months. Pigs were allocated to diets in complete randomized design. After 3 months and 600 ± 4 kg average body weight boars were slaughtered and epididymal semen was collected from head of epididymis. Boars that were fed control had higher (P < 0.05) live spermatozoa concentration than LLFPH and HFLPH diets. However, HLFPH had higher (P < 0.05) proximal droplet, distal droplet and dead spermatozoa concentration than control and LLFLPH. In addition, boars that were fed control and LLFPH had higher (P < 0.05) total, progressive, rapid motility, and lower non-progressive, static, medium and slow motility than HLFPH. It is concluded that low liquid fermented potato hash diet could be used as an alternative feed source for pigs. The results indicated that diets contain LFLPH can be used in boar diets without any adverse effects on spermatozoa quality.