Effect of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E on Ganders’ Response to Semen Collection and Ejaculate Characteristics

Abstract

Compared to other domestic bird species, geese exhibit the lowest reproductive efficiency (poor semen quality, low egg production, and poor fertility and hatchability rates). From an economic perspective, it is a necessity of improve these reproductive traits. Studies have demonstrated that the essential trace element—selenium—plays key roles in testicular development and the maintenance of spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of feed supplementation with organic selenium and vitamin E on ganders’ response to manual semen collection and semen quality. Sixteen 3-year-old White Koluda ganders were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was provided commercial feed while the experimental group was provided with the same commercial feed supplemented with selenium (0.3 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg). The response of individual ganders from both groups to manual semen collection and the quality of the semen collected were evaluated. The supplements increased (P ≤ 0.05) the frequency and decreased the time interval of a complete ejaculatory response of the ganders to manual semen collections (82.7 % supplement vs. 73.5 % control). Males from the supplemented group had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05) ejaculate volumes, sperm concentrations, and percentages of viable sperm and lower percentages of immature sperm (spermatids). Lipids peroxidation, expressed in terms of the malondialdehyde concentration, was lower (P ≤ 0.01) in semen of the supplemented group (0.172 nmol/50 × 106) as compared to the controls (0.320 nmol/50 × 106). Moreover, the duration of the reproductive period of the ganders in the experimental group was 1 week longer. The results show that supplemental dietary selenium and vitamin E improved both the ganders’ response to manual semen collection and semen quality. We conclude that such feed supplementation could lead to greater economic benefits through increased reproductive efficiency within the goose production industry.

Effects of Inclusion of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Antioxidants on Spermatozoa Morphology of Potchefstroom Koekoek Cockerels

“…Zinc is concentrated in the tail region of the sperm [22]. It is crucial in membrane stability and for mechanical properties of tail morphology [1] [4] [23] show that zinc is involved in the control of sperm motility through its association with ATP in contraction and its regulation of phospholipid energy reserves.…”

Effects of dietary vitamin E on male reproductive system

“…The concentration of lipid peroxidation in male was also lower. [8] Day old male chicks Vitamin in the form of dl-毩-tocopheryl acetate with dose of 80 mg/kg feed in maize/soybean for the age of 52 wk.…”

“…The seminiferous tubules making the framework of testes are degenerated due to deficiency of vitamin E [7]. Selenium is known as essential for the testicular function and sperm motility [8]. Lack of selenium causes the testicular malfunctioning like atrophy of semineferous tubules, abnormal spermatogenesis, immature sperms and reduction in volume of testes [9].…”

Effect of selenium and vitamin E addition to the extender on liquid stored capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen quality

“…As a consequence, sperm membranes must be protected by a highly efficient antioxidant system to prevent peroxidative damage during in vitro and in vivo storage (Bréque et al, 2003). Suppression of lipid peroxidation can be provided through addition of dietary antioxidants (Dimitrov, Atanasov, Surai, & Denev, 2007;Jerysz & Łukaszewicz, 2013;Marzoni, Cabras, Guerzilov, & Romboli, 2000) or by enrichment of semen extenders (Donoghue & Donoghue, 1997;Long & Kramer, 2003;Mangiagalli, Marelli, & Cavalchini, 2007). By the use of selenium and vitamin E individually and/or in combine form in semen extenders can improve semen preservation capability due to their great effect on decreasing the reactive oxygen species production (Zubair et al, 2015).…”