Ayam Kampung has a significant role for community life especially in rural areas as a source of meat, eggs, and as additional income. The relatively low productivity of ayam kampung is an obstacle for most breeders in Indonesia, especially household-scale farms. Household scale farms still apply the traditional maintenance model and are not environmentally sound, so the financial benefits and environmental health for the community and chicken tend to be low.
Optimal ayam kampung productivity can be obtained in the听thermoneutral zone听conditions,听where the ambient temperature can provide comfort to ayam kampung.听Indonesia is a tropical country with relatively high temperatures in the dry season.听Heat stress听is the stress caused by the temperature of the enclosure that is above the comfort zone.听Ayam kampung at high environmental temperatures听(25-32听掳 C) will show a decrease in productivity.听Increasing quality and quantity of sperm is an indicator of improving the reproductive status and is a solution to solve problems in the development of national farms.
One of the natural resources that are not used optimally with great efficacy for the reproductive health of ayam kampung rooster is pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seeds.听Pumpkin seeds contain mineral elements zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), which are very important for reproductive health organs, including the prostate gland.听In 100 g pumpkin seeds contain 6.5 grams of Zn (the highest among other protein sources).听The Zn mineral is involved in the activity of the ribonuclease enzyme in spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis.听Zn minerals are also known as immunomodulators.
The function of the Zn mineral contained in pumpkin seeds is to develop rooster reproductive function and sperm formation.听Giving Zn can reduce the production of听nitric oxide听(NO) and increase the activity of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase听(GPDH) enzyme, so there is an improved fattening process.听Zn minerals are involved in the process of spermatogenesis.听Zn mineral deficiency can cause disruption and delay the growth of sexual maturity.听Active Zn mineral ingredients play a role in nerve function, male reproductive function development, and spermatogenesis, especially the change of testosterone into active dehydrotestosterone.听Free radicals form peroxides which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).听Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can reduce the absorption, and use of vitamin E. Tocopherol in vitamin E can be oxidized to tocopheryl radical form) after carrying out its function as an antioxidant.听The form of tocopheryl can be reduced back to tocopherol by the synergistic action of other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and glutathione.听The combination of pumpkin seeds and vitamin E is one alternative that can improve the quality of Ayam kampung檚 spermatozoa.
Author: Siti Eliana Rochmi
Details of this research available at:听
Siti Eliana Rochmi, Herinda Pertiwi, Diyantoro Diyantoro. 2019. Quality Improvement of Spermatozoa of Rooster Exposed to Heat Stress Treated with Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita moschata) and Vitamin E. The Indian veterinary journal 96(07):19-21
