International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research (IJOEAR) ISSN:[2454-1850] [Vol-2, Issue-8, August- 2016] Page | 67 Effect of Gonadotrophin (Diclair®) on Semen Characteristics, Body Conformation and Hormonal Profile of Mature Male Turkeys EGU, U.N Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Abia State University, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Nigeria Abstract— Sixteen sexually matured (12 months old) healthy male turkeys were used to determine the effect of Gonadotrophin (Diclair ® ) on semen characteristics, body conformation and hormonal profile. The turkeys were divided into 4 treatment groups of 4 turkeys per group, identified as T 1 (control), and ministered with 1.00ml physiological saline, T 2 , administered with 13.50i.u Diclair ® , T 3 , administered with 27.00 i.u Diclair ® and T 4 , administered with 40.50i.u Diclair ® , with one turkey per replicate in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). The injections were divided into three doses each and administered intramuscularly in the thigh for three consecutive days. Semen was collected one week after Diclair ® administration, twice a week for 4 weeks by the abdominal massage and manipulation of the cloaca method. Four cocks were randomly selected from each treatment group and bled one week after Diclair ® injections to collect blood for hormonal profile evaluation. 30 days after Diclair ® injection, parameters for body confirmation were measured. The results showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatment groups in all the parameters for semen characteristics except semen pH and semen volume which were similar (P > 0.05) among the treatment groups. The results further showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatment groups in all the parameters for body confirmation: wing length, neck length, shank length, body length, beak length, thigh length, keel length, chest circumference and tail length. Similarly, the results showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatment groups in follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels. The results of this study suggest that Diclair ® improved semen quality, body confirmation and was not detrimental to the hormonal profile of the turkeys. Keywords— Diclair ® , semen quality, body conformation, hormones, Turkeys. I. INTRODUCTION Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are birds that originated in north America, that were domesticated in Europe and are now an important source of food in many parts of the world (Brant, 1998).Turkey occupies an important position next to chicken, duck, guinea fowl and quail in contributing to the most evolving sector, which is playing a significant role in augmenting the economic and nutritional status of varied population (Katie and Frazer, 1988). All over the world turkeys are reared for their tasty and high quality meat (Probakaran, 2003). Hence they are kept because of the economic service they render (Okeudo, 2005) such as eggs, meat, feathers and sometimes pet. To get the fullest benefits from the breeding turkeys therefore, a good knowledge of their sperm production is essential as well as their sperm output. Sperm producing potentials are evaluated by aspect of semen output: volume, motilityof sperm cells, morphology of spermatozoa, proportion of live sperm cells and concentration in ejaculate. No single parameter has been proved to be an accurate predictor of the quality of individual ejaculates (Iheukwumere et al., 2001). Sperm formation involves the use of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Iheukwumere et al., 2004). Most of these preparations of FSH and LH are very expensive perhaps because of the brand names, some of them require cold chain storage and often deteriorate because of inadequate storage and handling (Herbert et al., 2000). Diclair ® , also known as Humegon or Mentrophin and with similar constituents as plusset ® is a gonadotrophin preparation lyophilized in vials containing a mixture of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in a ratio 1:1 (Dixon and Hopkins, 1996). Follicle stimulating hormone and LH in Diclair ® play vital role in the initiation of spermatogenesis. The hormone preparation is cheap, readily available and does not require cold chain storage (Iheukwumere, 2005). It has not been determined if the administration of the hormone preparation for spermatogenesis and semen production would induce any side effects on the body conformation and hormonal profile of the turkeys. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of Diclair ® administration on the semen quality, body conformation and hormonal profile of mature male turkeys.