Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances1683-99191996-3289Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ajava.2008.369.374AdabiSh. Golzar BabaeiA. Haji LotfollahianH. FarahvashT. PourF. Moslemi 5200835To investigate the effect of dietary L-carnitine on
ostrich sperm quantity and quality, a study was conducted in a completely
randomized design consisting of three treatments and four replicates (total
12 male ostriches). The experimental rations were prepared using different
levels of carnitine (L1 = 0, L2 = 250 and L3
= 500 mg kg-1). Ejaculates were collected by massage method
once a month for three months. The ejaculate volume, total sperm numbers
per ejaculate, concentration of spermatozoa, sperm motility, live sperm
percentage and abnormal sperm percentage were measured. Semen volume in
both groups (250 and 500 mg kg-1) was higher than control group,
(p < 0.01), L-carnitine treated ostriches (250 and 500 mg kg-1)
have increased sperm count, sperm motility, live sperm (p < 0.05) but
L-carnitine had no significant effect on abnormal sperm. According to
this study it is recommended to use 250 mg kg-1 L-carnitine
in order to increase the ejaculate quality in ostriches.]]>Aganga, A.A., A.O. Aganga and U.J. Omphile,200326067Barker, D.L. and J.L. Sell, 199473281287Cartwright, A.L.,1986652129Chalah, T. and J.P. Brillard, 199850487493Chiodi, P., B. Ciani, S. Kentroti, F. Maccari, A. Vernadakis, L. Angelucci and M.T. Ramacci,199426711720Coulter, D.L.,1995102S322S39Duncan, D.B.,195511142Etches, R.J., 19961st Edn.pp: 328pp: 328Golan, R., R. Weissenberg and L.M. Lewin, 19847484494Adabi, S.G., G. Moghaddam, A. Taghizadeh, A. Nematollahi and T. Farahvash,20065970974Hemberger, M.Y., R. Hospes and H. Bostedt,200136241243Kalaiselvi, T. and C. Panneerselvam,19989575581Kozink, D.M., M.J. Estienne, A.F. Harper and J.M. Knight,20046112471258Leibetseder, J.,19954897108Lewin, L.M., D. Paee, R. Weissenberg and Y. Soffer,198136214218Malecki, I.A., G.B. Martin and D.R. Lindsay,1997Dromaius novaehollandiae). 1. Methods for collection of semen.]]>76622626Malecki, I.A., G.B. Martin and D.R. Lindsay,1997Dromaius novaehollandiae). 2. Effect of collection frequency on the production of semen and spermatozoa. ]]>76622626Neuman, S.L., T.L. Lin and P.Y. Hester,2002Leghorn roosters.]]>81495503Palmero, S., M. Leone, M. Costa, M. Messeni and M. Fugassa,199022622626Rabie, M.H., M. Szilagyi and T. Gippert,199878615623SAS,19861986Stradaioli, G., L. Sylla, R. Zelli, P. Chiodi and M. Monaci,200462761777Xu, Z.R., M.Q. Wang, H.X. Mao, X.A. Zhan and C.H. Hu,200382408413