EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF TRACE MINERALS ON SEMEN PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF SAHIWAL BULLS DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS
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Date
2019
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ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
Present study was planned to evaluate the effect of supplemental trace minerals on semen production performance of Sahiwal bulls during different seasons. Twelve Sahiwal bulls were grouped as T1, T2 and T3 based on semen volume and mass activity. T1 group served as control and fed basal diet as per ICAR (2013). Whereas, the animals were supplemented with 1.5 and 2 times higher trace minerals above the basal diet in T2 and T3 groups, respectively for 3 trials during 3 different seasons (Trial 1 from November to February, trial 2 from March to June and trial 3 from July to September). Semen collection was done twice a week in all the groups. In each trial, DMI and body weight was recorded at fortnightly and monthly intervals, respectively. A seven days digestion trial was conducted at 90 d of experimental feeding during first trial to assess the nutrient utilization. Sexual behavior and semen evaluation was done at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120th day during each trial. Semen ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for semen quantitative (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and no. of sperm per ejaculate) and qualitative characteristics (pH, mass motility, post thaw motility, sperm livability, abnormal sperm, intact acrosome and hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test) in both fresh as well as frozen semen. Blood and seminal alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), lipid peroxidation (LPO) activity and minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Fe, Ca and P) were estimated. Blood antioxidant status in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was also evaluated in all the trials.
It was found that Zn, Cu, Mn and Co supplementation by 1.5 and 2.0 times higher than ICAR (2013) recommendation did not alter BW, DMI and nutrient digestibility. Sexual behavior was not improved due to supplementation of trace minerals. During winter season, semen volume was 13.28% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group; sperm concentration (million/mL) increased (P<0.05) from 1170.28 (T1) to 1234.11 (T3). Live sperm count was 4.33% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group in fresh semen and 5.09% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group in frozen semen. There was 11.9% (P<0.05) reduction in total abnormality in T3 group than T1 group in fresh semen and 6.48% in frozen semen. The acrosome integrity (%) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 group (90.03) than T1 (87.17) and T2 (88.36) groups in fresh semen and in frozen semen also it was higher in T3 group (64.75) than T1 (62.33) and T2 (62.75) groups. The HOST positive sperm (%) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 group (59.89) than T1 (56.86) and T2 (57.92) groups in fresh semen and in frozen semen also it was higher T3 group (46.08) than T1 (44.08) and T2 (44.83) groups. In summer season, seminal parameters except mass activity, concentration and
livability were improved in fresh semen, not in frozen semen. Semen volume was 28.47% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group. There was 17.83% (P<0.05) reduction in total abnormality in T3 group than T1 group in fresh semen. The acrosome integrity (%) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 group (87.78) than T1 (84.44) and T2 (85.69) groups in fresh semen. The HOST positive sperm (%) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 group (57.72) than T1 (53.03) and T2 (54.31) groups in fresh semen. During hot humid season, semen volume was 24.22% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group. Sperm concentration (million/mL) increased (P<0.05) from 1114.57 (T1) to 1217.79 (T3). Live sperm (%) increased (P<0.05) from 73.46 (T1) to 77.54 (T3) in fresh semen and from 55.33 (T1) to 58.83 (T3) in frozen semen. Total abnormality (%) in fresh semen decreased (P<0.05) from 11.96 (T1) to 9.71(T3); while in frozen semen from 22.33 (T1) to 19.52 (T3). The acrosome integrity (%) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 group (88.25) than T1 (85.11) and T2 (86.21) groups in fresh semen and in frozen semen also it was higher in T3 group (66.33) than T1 (59.67) and T2 (62.08) groups. The HOST positive sperm count was 9.23% higher (P<0.05) in T3 group than T1 group in fresh semen and in frozen semen also it was 9.9% higher T3 group than T1 group. Blood and seminal biochemical parameters, blood antioxidant status as well as blood and seminal plasma mineral levels (Zn, Cu and Mn) were improved in T3 group which was supplemented with 2 times higher levels of trace minerals than ICAR (2013) recommendation. Winter and rainy seasons were better for quality semen production in Sahiwal bulls. Therefore, it may be concluded that dietary supplementation of additional Zn, Cu, Mn and Co (40 ppm Zn, 10 ppm Cu, 15 ppm Mn and 0.11ppm Co) over and above the basal diet per day per Sahiwal bull can improve the qualitative and quantitative attributes of semen.