The effect of Sil-select and swim-down techniques with antioxidant added to diluent on buffalo bull’s semen traits

Abstract

A study investigated the effect of sil-select and swim-down sperm selection protocols on enhancing the bad semen attributes of buffalo bulls with or without antioxidants. Semen was evaluated weekly (14 weeks) and divided into 12 groups. Good (GSQ) and bad (BSQ) semen were diluted using a Tris diluent. The GSQ was divided into three groups [CS1: Tris diluent; CS5: Tris+ vitamins E (2 mmol) and C (5 mmol); CS6: Tris +glutamine (20mmol) and arginine (1mmol)]. The BSQ was divided into three groups and three sub-groups (CS2: Tris diluent; CS7: Tris +vitamins E and C; CS8: Tris+ glutamine and arginine). In the 3rd and 4th main groups, the Sil-Select (CS3) and swim-down (CS4) techniques were used with or without adding antioxidants and subdivided into three sub-groups, referred to as CS9-CS10 for the sil-select method and CS11-CS12 for the swim-down. Improving normal morphology (NM), acrosome, plasma membrane integrity and lesser sperm abnormalities (SAB) were noticed in fresh semen of the CS3 than the CS2 groups. The CS3, CS4, and CS9-CS12 groups recorded higher NM and lower SAB than other groups post-cryopreservation. The two techniques removed SAB and harvested good sperm, which may improve the pregnancy rate and agricultural sustainability systems.