Semen quality of rams fed a liposomal vitamin-mineral supplement during the period of sexual rest

Abstract

To increase the sexual activity and sperm quality of rams during the period of sexual rest, it is necessary to increase the consumption rates of vitamins and microelements to the level of the mating season. The aim of the work was to find out the effect of feeding a liposomal vitamin-mineral supplement on the quality parameters of ram sperm during the period of sexual rest. The experiment was conducted on 12 clinically healthy Texel rams, aged 2–4 years, during the period of sexual rest (March–May). Animals were divided into two groups: control and experimental, 6 heads each. The control rams received the basic diet, the animals of the experimental group were individually added to the combined feed for 45 days with a feed additive in the form of a liposomal emulsion, which included: vitamins A, D3, E, C and zinc gluconate. After the end of supplement feeding, ejaculates were collected from the rams for research. The motility, kinetic indicators of sperm, the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and cytochrome oxidase (CO) in sperm, as well as the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO) and catalase (CAT) were determined. It was established that feeding liposomal vitamin-mineral supplement to rams during the period of sexual rest significantly (P < 0.05) increases sperm activity, their kinetic indicators: curvilinear (VCL), straight-line (VSL) and average speed (VAP) of sperm movement (P < 0.05–0.001), the activity of enzymes – markers of the fertilizing capacity of SDH and CO sperm (P < 0.05–0.001). At the same time, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the activity of SOD with a simultaneous significant (by 23.3–25.0 %) increase in the activity of GPO and CAT (P < 0.01). Higher indicators of the quality of ejaculates of rams under the influence of vitamins A, D3, E, C and zinc gluconate indicate the possibility of obtaining high-quality sperm from breeding rams during the period of sexual rest.