Effects of gelatin and oxytocin supplementation in a long-term semen extender on boar semen quality and fertility potential

Objective This study investigated the efficacy of different concentrations of gelatin supplementation in long-term semen extender on boar semen quality during storage for 10 days at 17°C. Additionally, oxytocin was added to stored semen to enhance fertility. Methods In Experiment 1, boar semen was collected, diluted with gelatin at concentrations between 0% and 2.5% (w/v) and mixed with a semen extender. Then, it was kept in a refrigerator at 17°C and stored for 10 days. In Experiment 2, the sperm quality was examined after adding 0, 5, and 10 IU oxytocin per artificial insemination dose to the most effective semen extender from Experiment 1 and placing it in a refrigerator at 17°C for 10 days. In Experiment 3, the fertility potential in terms of non-return rate and litter size was determined using the most effective solid-stored semen supplemented with oxytocin. Results The results indicated that sperm quality decreased with increasing storage time (p0.05). The non-return rate and litter size after insemination with semen supplemented with 1.5% gelatin and 10 IU of oxytocin after 8 to 10 days of storage were comparable to those of the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion A semen extender as a solid medium supplemented with 1.5% gelatin successfully preserved boar semen for a long storage duration. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality. In addition, the fertility capacity using 1.5% gelatin with 10 IU oxytocin and stored for 8 to 10 days was acceptable and comparable to that of short-term storage

Characterization of Oviduct Lining, with Emphasis on the Sperm Storage Tubule Region (Uterovaginal Junction), Correlated with Fertility in Mature and Old Thai Native Hens

The effect of age on fertility was investigated in Thai native chickens. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of age (mature and old) on the morphological characteristics of the reproductive organs and the histological characteristics of the uterovaginal junction (UVJ) tissues, resident sperm in the UVJ, and fertility duration in Thai native hens. We found no differences in the morphological characteristics of the reproductive organs, except for the number of follicles and the sizes of the fifth large yellow follicle in mature hens, which were greater than those in old hens (p < 0.05). The diameter of the sperm storage tubules (SSTs) epithelium was larger in old hens than in mature hens (p < 0.05), whereas the epithelium height was lower in old hens (p < 0.05). The number of sperm in the SSTs was greater in mature hens compared with old hens (p < 0.05). Mature hens showed a higher fertility rate than old hens. Our results suggest that, in old hens, the function of the SSTs is impaired, and sperm cannot be retained. Such a deterioration of the SSTs may be one of the factors involved in the decline in fertility

Nutritional Evaluation of Energy Feed Sources for Ruminant Using In Vitro Gas Production Technique

ABSTRACT Five energy feed sources were used to evaluate for nutritive value using the in vitro gas production technique. The rumen mixed microbe inoculums were taken from fistulated Brahman-Thai native crossbred steers. The energy feed source treatments were 1) corn meal, 2) cassava chip, 3) broken rice, 4) rice bran and 5) rice pollard. The treatments were assigned to completely randomize design (four replications). The results indicated that soluble gas fractions (a) (-32.39, -50.98, -34.02, -21.67 and -3.39 mL, respectively), the fermentation of the insoluble fraction (b) (132.39, 150.98, 134.02, 119.09 and 62.66 mL, respectively), rate of gas production (c) (0.12, 0.19, 0.08, 0.11 and 0.06 %/h , respectively) and potential of extent of gas production (a+b) (164.79, 201.97, 168.05, 140.76 and 66.05 mL, respectively) were significantly different (P<0.01) among energy feed sources. The cumulative gas volumes at 24, 48 and 96 h after incubation were significantly different (P<0.01). Cassava chip exhibited the greatest gas production characteristics and gas volume. These results together with its locally available at an inexpensive cost cassava chip was one of the potential energy source for beef and dairy cattle

Effect of synchronizing the rate of degradation of dietary energy and nitrogen release on growth performance in Brahman cattle

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of synchronizing the rate of degradation of dietary energy and nitrogen release on growth performance in Brahman beef cattle. Fifteen Brahman cattle, 1.5 years old, with an average initial body weight of 184.8±11.1 kg were assigned to one of three treatments according to a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments contained 3 levels of synchrony index (0.39, 0.56 and 0.74) that were derived from laboratory chemical composition analysis and degradation kinetics using nylon bag technique. Diets were fed at the rate of 2.5% BW by separate concentrate and roughage. Average daily gain increased linearly (P<0.05) with increase levels of synchrony index in the diets. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber increased linearly (P<0.01). The digestibility of acid detergent fiber increased linearly (P<0.05). Ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration increased linearly (P<0.05) at 6 h post feeding. Higher concentration and fluctuation of ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were observed in animals that received lower synchrony index in their diets. Rumen microbial population tended to increase with diets having higher levels of synchrony index. The results indicated that synchronized rate of dietary energy and nitrogen degradation improved ruminal fermentation and digestibility, thus this increased the growth rate in Brahman cattle fed with ricestraw- based diets

Estimation of Rumen Undegradable Protein with In Situ Nylon Bag and In Vitro Enzymatic Technique in Tropical Concentrate Feedstuffs

Seventeen concentrate feedstuffs were used to study the relationships between the in vitro enzymatic technique and the in situ nylon bag technique for rumen undegradable protein determination. Feedstuffs were divided into 6 groups, 1) energy feed, 2) all protein feed, 3) feed higher than 15% crude protein (CP), 4) feed higher than 20% CP 5) feed lower than 20% CP and 6) all test feed. It was found that all test feed had the lowest relationship (R2 = 0.16, P 15%CP)

Fertility and Insemination Characteristics of Sperm Storage Tubules in Old Thai-Native Hens

We aimed to evaluate the effects of sperm concentration (150–250 × 106 spz/dose) and insemination frequency (once, twice, and thrice weekly) on fertility and sperm storage tubule (SST) characteristics. The SSTs were classified into five categories: namely, SSTs having an unscorable (SST1), empty (SST2), low (SST3), medium (SST4), and high (SST5) sperm count after insemination. The results showed that only insemination frequency affected the fertility rate (p p p p p > 0.05). In summary, the insemination dose of 150 × 106 sperm was enough for fertilization, and thrice-weekly insemination was the appropriate frequency in old Thai native hens for maintaining a high sperm density in the SSTs throughout the week

In Sacco Degradation Characteristics of Protein Feed Sources in Brahman-Thai Native Crossbred Steers

The nutritive value of six protein feed sources were determined using the nylon bag technique in rumen fistulated Brahman-Thai native crossbred steers. The steers were fed 0.5% BW of concentrate and rice straw ad libitum. Nylon bags containing 5.0 g of each feed were immersed in duplicate at each time point in the ventral rumen of each steer for 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. The data were fitted to the equation P = a+b (1-e-ct) and effective degradability was calculated using a theoretical rumen out flow rate of k = 0.05/h. The treatments were 1) kapok seed meal, 2) soybean meal, 3) coconut meal (solv-extd), 4) peanut meal, 5) whole cotton seed and 6) fish meal assigned according to a completely randomize design with four replications. The results indicate that the rapidly soluble fraction (a), potentially degradable fraction (b), degradation rate (c) and potential degradation (a+b) of DM, OM and CP were different among treatments (P < 0.01). Effective degradability of DM, OM and CP calculated as a percentage of the nutrient were ranked from high to low: DM degradability: soybean meal (60.96%), peanut meal (52.02%), whole cotton seed (47.35%), coconut meal (solve-extd) (42.52%), fish meal (42.37%) and kapok seed meal (24.31%); OM degradability: soybean meal (59.74%), peanut meal (52.17%), whole cotton seed (46.35%), fish meal (46.22%), coconut meal (solv-extd) (39.93%), and kapok seed meal (28.69%); CP degradability: whole cotton seed (74.17%), kapok seed meal (68.18%), fish meal (47.32%), soybean meal (46.42%), peanut meal (45.35%) and coconut meal (solv-extd) (32.61%). The data provids information on combinations of energy and protein sources with similar ruminal degradation, and thus may lead to improved feeding values for ruminants

Different concentrations of cysteamine, ergothioneine, and serine modulate quality and fertilizing ability of cryopreserved chicken sperm

International audienceThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of freezing diluents supplemented in three potential amines/amino acids, namely, antioxidant cysteamine (2-aminoethanethiol [AET]), ergothioneine (ERG), and serine (SER), in optimization of chicken sperm cryopreservation. The semen of 36 Pradu Hang Dum males, selected based on their motility vigor score, was frozen by a simple freezing method using nitrogen vapors and dimethylformamide (DMF). In a first experiment, a wide range of AET, ERG, and SER doses were tested. Semen quality was evaluated after incubation at 5 C or after cryopreservation in straws in the Blumberger Hahnen Sperma Verd€ unner (BHSV) diluent 1 DMF (6% v/v) with or without AET, ERG, or SER. The best targeted doses of AET, ERG, or SER were then selected for experiment 2 that was focused on cryopreserved semen. Frozen-thawed sperm quality was evaluated by different in vitro tests and by evaluation of fertility. Objective motility parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and mitochondria function were evaluated using appropriate dyes and flow cytometry. Lipid peroxide production was assessed by the thiobarbituric acid test (malondialdehyde production). Fertility obtained with frozenthawed semen supplemented or not in AET, ERG, or SER was evaluated after artificial insemination of laying hens. ERG and AET decreased sperm lipid peroxidation and decreased fertility, even at low doses. The presence of 4 mmol of SER significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, increased the frozen-thawed sperm quality, and increased fertility after sperm cryopreservation (90% vs. control 84%, P , 0.05). In a third experiment, the use of 1 mmol of sucrose (the best result of our previous study) added to 4 mmol of SER-supplemented extender was tested. This addition allowed to the highest levels of fertility (93%). In conclusion, the addition of 4 mmol of SER in semen cryopreservation diluents decreases peroxidation and improves the efficiency of the process