Effect of Different Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) Levels on the Sperm Viability of Ongole Cross Bred Bull during 5°C Storage

Abstract

Improving the productivity and genetic quality of local cattle, especially Ongole Cross Bred (known as PO) is applied through Artificial Insemination (AI). The success of AI must be supported by semen quality. Semen processing at 5°C can cause sperm membrane damage resulting in decreased semen quality, especially the viability of sperm. This results in reduced sperm fertility at the time of fertilization with the ovum. Viability is an important indicator for cold semen processing. The use of semen diluents, Cauda Epididymal Plasma-2 (CEP-2), has been shown to be able to maintain semen quality during storage at 5°C. The addition of BSA as an extracellular cryoprotectant supported the function of egg yolk in CEP-2 to prevent cold shock during storage. This study used fresh ejaculate of PO bull with a minimum requirement of 80% viability. The ejaculate was diluted by CEP-2 with BSA level 0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8 and 1%. The diluted ejaculate was stored for eight days at 5°C. The results showed that the viability of sperm fluctuated in line with the length of storage at each level of BSA. Significant influence of BSA on sperm viability occurred at storage day 4 (83.29±3.53)% at 1% level and day 8 (89.36±2.65)% at 0.2 % level (P <0.01). The conclusion was the BSA 0.2% level maintains the highest viability of sperm during eight days of storage. Suggestion for further research was the need for research on motility and abnormality as a support for the successful processing of liquid semen.