The effect of selenium and vitamin E addition on semen quality of Awassi rams

Abstract

     This study conducted in sheep farm/faculty of Agriculture/Kirkuk University on 16 young Awassi rams at age 15-16 months to determine the effect of Selenium and Vitamin E oral administration in some semen characteristics. Rams were divided randomly into four groups, the 1st group (T1) without treatment as control while the 2nd and 3rd groups (T2 and T3) were orally administered with 0.1 or o.2 mg mixed with 1000 IU vit. E respectively, while T4 was administered with only 1000 IU of vitamin E for 3 months. Ejaculate volume, pH, mass mobility and individual motility, precentage of normal, dead and abnormal sperm, sperm concentration were studied at end of each of 3rd month of the study. Selenium and vitamin E treatments had significantly increased pH in the treatments T2 and T3 compared with the control and T4 during the 1st month. In 2nd month T4 surpass significantly T3 and in 3rd month both T4 and T2 surpass significantly T3.  Sperm concentration showed significant increase in T3 in comparison to other treatments in 2nd month, in 3rd month T3 and T4 were significantly higher than T2. Mass mobility showed significant incease in T4 during 2nd month while T2 increased significantly during 3rd month in comparison to control, T3 and T4. Individual mobility showed significant increase in T4 in comparison to control, T2 and T3 during 2nd month and significant incease in comparison to T3 during 3rd month. Dead sperm percentage recorded significant decrease in T4 in comparison to T2 and T3 in both 2nd and 3rd months. Normal sperm percentage showed significant increase in T4 upon other groups in 2nd month while T2, T3 and T4 showed significant increase upon control in 3rd month. Abnormal sperm percantage recorded significant decrease in T4 in comparison to other groups in 2nd and 3rd months.