Reproductive performance of medium white breeder toms fed diets with varying metabolizable energy levels and 7% crude protein.

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of feeding diets composed of triticale (var: Flora) with varying ME levels and 7% CP on fertilizing capacity and semen quality of Medium White breeder toms. Thirty-nine breeder toms were fed ad libitum from 30 to 54 wk of age one of four dietary treatments: 14% CP with 2,892 kcal ME/kg; 7% CP with 2,919 kcal ME/kg; 7% CP with 2,719 kcal ME/kg; and 7% CP with 2,539 kcal ME/kg. Semen volume (SV), packed spermatozoa volume (PSCV), BW, testicular weight (TW), and fertilizing capacity of semen were measured. No differences for SV, PSCV, TW, calculated daily feed, and estimated energy consumption were observed among the dietary energy levels fed. The estimated daily protein intake was higher (P less than .05) for toms fed the 14% 2,892-ME diet than 2,539, 2,719, and 2,919-ME diets containing 7% CP. The 7% 2,919-ME diet reduced (P less than .05) the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa, whereas the 7% 2,539-ME diet decreased the percentage of fertile eggs hatched. Under the conditions of this experiment, Medium White breeder toms maintained fertilizing capacity and semen quality when provided a diet containing 7% CP with 2,719 kcal ME/kg.