Effects of Diminazene Aceturate and Ivermectin Administration on Semen and Serum Parameters of the Red Sokoto Buck

Abstract

Twenty seven red Sokoto bucks, at the age of 2 years and weighing between 32–34kg were used. After administration of the drugs, semen and sera samples were collected 1, 24, 72, and 192 hours for analysis. The parameters studied namely semen volume, percentage motility of sperm, sperm concentration, live sperm percentage, semen glucose level, serum testosterone and serum follicle stimulating hormone were found to decrease significantly (P less than 0.05) when compared with the pre treatment group throughout the collection period. However, the drugs did not affect the live sperm percentage and ivermectin did not affect semen glucose level. A relationship was established between spermatological characteristics and serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone levels. These findings indicate that the drugs investigated in this study decreased semen parameters and serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone. It was concluded that diminazene aceturate and ivermectin should be used cautiously in red Sokoto bucks meant for breeding due to the deleterious effects they were observed to have on fertility parameters.