ANALYSIS OF SEMEN QUALITY AND FERTILITY BIOMARKERS IN CROSSBRED MALE GOATS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ZINC DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS
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Date
2022
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ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
The health of livestock is significantly impacted by heat stress, metabolic dysfunction,
oxidative stress, and immunological suppression as a result of more frequent extreme weather
events, including higher temperatures and extremely low temperatures. The present study was
experimentally investigated (i) to study the effect of zinc supplementation on the semen
parameters and fertility biomarkers in seminal plasma of crossbred male goats during
different seasons (ii) to study the effect of zinc supplementation on haematological
parameters, hormones and enzymes in blood of crossbred male goats during different
seasons. To investigate, eighteen Alpine x beetle buck goats age (2-4 years) were selected and
classified into three groups (n=6) as control, zinc supplemented group T1 @40ppm/Kg BW
DMI and T2 @60ppm/Kg BW DMI on the basis of their average body weight. All bucks
were housed in individual pens and fed in accordance with ICAR standards uniformly. In
each season, semen samples and blood were collected and physiological parameters were
observed fortnightly from mid December to June. The influence of season (winter, spring and
summer) and effect of zinc supplementation on animal’s physiology, semen and blood
parameters were studied. Season showed significant (p˂0.05) variations in semen parameters.
Semen quality in the zinc supplemented group was improved as evidenced by a statistically
significant (p˂0.05) increase in semen volume, progressive motility, individual motility, and
acrosomal integrity. The activities of seminal plasma glutathione peroxidase, superoxide
dismutase, catalase, and MDA were all significantly (p˂0.05) varied during different seasons
and were improved by zinc supplementation as well as MDA level reduced. There was a
significant (p˂0.05) seasonal variation in heart rate, respiration rate, rectal temperature, TEC,
TLC, PCV, haemoglobin, ALT, AST and lactoferrin. The levels of blood plasma cortisol,
thyroxine, zinc, testosterone, ALT and AST were significantly different (p˂ 0.05) in different
seasons. Therefore this study concludes that seasonal variation affects the semen quality. Zinc
supplementation improved the semen quality by reducing oxidative stress in crossbred male
goats. Seminal attributes, testosterone hormone, enzymes such as glutathione peroxidise,
catalase, malondialdehyde and seminal plasma protein lactoferrin can serve as potential
fertility biomarkers.