1. Effects of dietary supplementation with Erythrina americana on seminal characteristics of rams.
- Author
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Nieto-Aquino, Rafael, Altamirano-Mijangos, Eleazar, Salinas-Rios, Teódulo, Rodríguez-Magadán, Héctor M., Cadena-Villegas, Said, Nava-Cuellar, Cuauhtémoc, and Hernández-Bautista, Jorge
- Subjects
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FROZEN semen , *SEMEN analysis , *DIETARY supplements , *ARTIFICIAL insemination , *SPERMATOZOA , *SEMEN - Abstract
Background: Antioxidants of natural origin can be used to improve cryopreservation of semen. Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Erythrina americana on the seminal characteristics of rams. Methods: Ten rams were randomly distributed in two treatments: l) Group supplemented with E. americana (20% dry matter basis; AEA, n=5), and 2) Control group not supplemented (SEA, n=5). Both diets were iso-proteic and iso-energetic. The feeding period was eleven weeks. Ejaculates were obtained through an artificial vagina and were evaluated fresh (37 °C) and refrigerated (5 °C). Semen volume (VOL) was assessed by visual examination in a calibrated (mm) tube; sperm concentration (CON x106) with a photometer; and mass motility (MM, 1-5), individual motility (IM), normality (N), and live sperm (L) were assessed by microscopic observation. Results: Feeding E. americana did not affect (p>0.05) VOL, CON, MM, and N in fresh semen, but decreased (p<0.05) IM and L. The L and N variables did not differ (p>0.05) among treatment groups in the refrigerated semen; however, IM improved in the AEA group (p<0.05) compared to the SEA group. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of rams with E. americana reduces sperm quality in fresh semen but is beneficial for the cooling process of refrigerated semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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