Influence of Fat-Soluble Vitamin Intramuscular Supplementation on Kinematic and Morphometric Sperm Parameters of Boar Ejaculates

Abstract

Ejaculate quality can be regarded as multifactorial, with nutrition being a factor that could directly influence sperm parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate seminal quality associated with seasonal fat-soluble vitamin supplementation of boars. Seven sexually mature boars were randomly allotted to one of the three groups, and fed one of the three supplementary diets for 32 weeks: (1) control treatment (COD), without supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins, (2) treatment containing 100% fat-soluble vitamin supplementation administered intramuscularly, which was based on fat soluble vitamin supplementation (A, D3, E) (FVD1), and (3) treatment containing 50% of fat-soluble vitamin supplementation (FVD12). Semen was collected at 7-day intervals. Semen samples were analyzed to assess several sperm parameters using the Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) ISAS®v1 system. Results showed that groups receiving FVD1 and FVD12 supplementation had an increased semen volume. The percentages of motile and progressively motile sperm were increased by FVD1 treatment. A statistically significant interaction between treatment and season was found in the percentage of motility and progressive motility (p < 0.05). Sperm concentrations showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatments. Velocity variables (VSL, VCL, and VAP) were higher (p < 0.05) in boars that received fat-soluble vitamin supplementation in comparison to controls receiving no supplementation. The FVD1 treatment presented spermatozoa with greater head size and more elongated heads (p < 0.05). Overall, the utilization of dietary fat-soluble vitamin supplementation significantly improved the semen quality of boar ejaculates. This highlights the importance of fat-soluble vitamin supplementation in sexually active boars.

Morphometric assessment of cryopreserved livestock bull spermatozoa in the tropics

“…In animal species, semen analysis values are modulated by factors such as nutrition (Calderón‐Calderón et al, 2022), age (Stasiak et al, 2018) and season (Malama et al, 2017). Moreover, differences between breeds are the result of animal–environment interactions during handling.…”

Kinematic and Morphometric Assessment of Fresh Semen, before, during and after Mating Period in Brahman Bulls

“…We should also bear in mind that, during the mating period, the bulls sampled may have mated previously, which could directly affect the parameters of both the motility and kinematic patterns (general means and subpopulation structure), as well as the morphology and morphometry of the spermatozoa. The effect of the sire on the characteristics of the semen should also be also taken into account [ 29 ] by not only considering an individual effect, but also the differences that the ejaculates of the same sire can present over time [ 12 , 20 , 41 ]. In this work, we expanded the perspective on how ejaculate characteristics behave throughout the entire mating season, considering traits before, during, and after the mating period, as well as some features associated with bull semen quality and potential fertility.…”

“…In vitro semen assessment is the best way to predict the potential fertility of a sire [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, sire sperm quality is multifactorial [ 20 ] as it is influenced by breed, health, nutrition, season, and mating system [ 21 ].…”