Effects of dietary l-carnitine supplementation on semen characteristics in boars

Abstract

In some species, dietary supplementation with l-carnitine has been reported to increase sperm concentration and sperm motility. The objective of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that l-carnitine supplementation improves the semen characteristics of boars. In Experiment 1, boars (258 days of age) were fed daily a control diet ( n=9) or the control diet plus l-carnitine (500 mg per day; n=9). Semen was collected weekly from Weeks 0 to 15 and on 4 consecutive days during Week 16. Experiment 2 was similar to Experiment 1 except boars ( n=10 per treatment) were 504 days of age. For the weekly and intensive collections there were no consistently positive effects of treatment on semen volume, sperm concentration, total spermatozoa, or sperm motility. Spermatozoa from l-carnitine-treated boars did not display an enhanced ability to maintain motility during 7-day liquid storage. In conclusion, indicators of semen quality were not enhanced by dietary supplementation of l-carnitine in boars.