Breeding soundness examination (BSE): a decision-making tool that requires a particular guideline for male goats.

Breeding soundness examination (BSE) is a common evaluation to predict the reproductive ability of male livestock. The generated guideline for BSE is specified for each animal species to enhance the performance of BSE. However, there is no particular BSE guideline for bucks yet; then, the BSE guidelines for ram and bull are commonly used for bucks. This investigation was conducted to determine the main BSE characteristics and the appropriate age range for assessment in Boer goats. For this purpose, semen was collected using electro-ejaculation, and seminogram variables (semen-BSE traits) were evaluated using conventional methods. The association between common testicular biometric variables (TBVs) and semen-BSE traits were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression. Logistic regression was used to test the validity of TBVs for the BSE of Boer goats. In this study, a strange appearance of the head of sperm, known as "rod-in-head" (RIH), was observed. The results showed that the appropriate age range for performing BSE in bucks is 12-30 months. Moreover, scrotal length in the range of 10-15.9 cm was the eligible TBV to be used as a predictor for semen-BSE traits. It was suggested that developing a BSE guideline for bucks is necessary for unbiased selection in performing BSE.

Butylated hydroxytoluene protects bull sperm surface protein-P25b in different extenders following cryopreservation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentration of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on sperm membrane surface protein "P25b" from cryopreserved bull semen in either lecithin based Bioxcell® (BX) or two egg-yolk based extenders, tris-egg yolk (TEY), and citrate-egg yolk (CEY). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five semen samples, 15 each were extended with either BX, TEY, or CEY extender which contained different concentrations (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mM/mL) of BHT. The extended semen samples were frozen at a concentration of 20×106/mL in 0.25 mL straws and stored in liquid nitrogen for 2weeks. The frozen samples were thereafter thawed, proteins extracted and analyzed for quantities of protein P25b through direct sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel densitometry. Peptides were confirmed by Western blotting (WB). RESULTS: Results showed that supplementation of BHT improved (p<0.05) quantity of protein P25b at concentrations of 0.5mM/mL for BX and at 1.0 mM/mL for TEY and CE when compared with the controls and other treatments. CONCLUSION: BHT supplementation at 0.5 in BX and 1.0 mM/mL in TEY and CEY has protected bull sperm fertility marker protein P25b in frozen-thawed bull sperm.

Effect of different concentrations of soybean lecithin and virgin coconut oil in Tris-based extender on the quality of chilled and frozen-thawed bull semen.

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of soybean lecithin (SL) and virgin coconut oil (VCO) in Tris-based extender on chilled and frozen-thawed bull semen quality parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 ejaculates were collected from four bulls via an electroejaculator. Semen samples were diluted with 2% VCO in Tris-based extender which consists of various concentrations of SL (1, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75%). A 20% egg yolk in Tris used as a positive control (C+). The diluted semen samples were divided into two fractions; one for chilling which were stored at 4°C for 24, 72, and 144 h before evaluated for semen quality parameters. The second fraction used for freezing was chilled for 3 h at 4°C, packed into 0.25 mL straws and then cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. The samples were then evaluated after 7 and 14 days. Chilled and frozen semen samples were thawed at 37°C and assessed for general motility using computer-assisted semen analysis, viability, acrosome integrity and morphology (eosin-nigrosin stain), membrane integrity, and lipid peroxidation using thiobarbituric acid reaction test. RESULTS: The results showed that all the quality parameters assessed were significantly (p<0.05) improved at 1.5% SL concentration in chilled semen. Treatment groups of 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75% SL were higher in quality parameters than the control group (C+) in chilled semen. However, all the quality parameters in frozen-thawed semen were significantly higher in the C+ than the treated groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, supplementation of 1.5% SL in 2% VCO Tris-based extender enhanced the chilled bull semen. However, there was no marked improvement in the frozen-thawed quality parameters after treatment.

Effect of different concentrations of egg yolk and virgin coconut oil in Tris-based extenders on chilled and frozen-thawed bull semen.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 8% virgin coconut oil (VCO) combined with different percentages of egg yolk in Tris extender on the quality of chilled and frozen-thawed bull semen. A total of 24 ejaculates from four bulls were collected using an electroejaculator. Semen samples were diluted with 8% VCO in Tris extender which contained different concentrations 0% (control), 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20% egg yolk. The diluted semen samples were divided into two fractions: one was chilled and stored at 4°C until evaluation after 24, 72, and 144h; the second fraction was processed by chilling for 3h at 4°C to equilibrate, then packaged in 0.25ml straws and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C until evaluation after 7 and 14 days. Both chilled and frozen semen samples were then thawed at 37°C and assessed for general motility using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), viability, acrosome integrity, and morphology (eosin-nigrosin), membrane integrity (hypo-osmotic swelling test) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)). The results indicate treatments with 8%, 12%, 16% and 20% egg yolk with 8% VCO had greater sperm quality (P<0.05) as compared with the control. The treatment with 20% egg yolk had the greatest sperm quality (P<0.05) among the treated groups for both chilled and frozen-thawed semen. In conclusion, the use of 8% VCO combined with 20% egg yolk in a Tris-based extender enhanced the values for chilled and frozen-thawed quality variables of bull sperm.

Effect of docosahexanoic acid on quality of frozen-thawed bull semen in BioXcell extender.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) supplementation in BioXcell extender on the quality of frozen-thawed bull semen. Twenty-four ejaculates were collected from three bulls (eight from each bull). Ejaculates with motility ≥70% and normal morphology ≥80% were extended into BioXcell extender to which 0 (control), 3, 5, 10 or 15ngmL-1 DHA was added. The supplemented semen samples were incubated at 37°C for 15min for DHA uptake by spermatozoa. Later, samples were cooled for 2h at 5°C and packaged into 0.25-mL straws, frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24h and subsequently thawed for evaluation. Results are presented as percentages ± s.e.m. Supplementation with DHA at 3ngmL-1 significantly improved sperm functional parameters including sperm motility, normal morphology, viability, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity when compared with other supplemented groups and the control. Lipid peroxidation increased as the incorporation of DHA supplementation increased. In conclusion, 3ngmL-1 concentration of DHA resulted in superior quality of frozen-thawed bull spermatozoa and is suggested as the optimum level of DHA to be added into BioXcell extender.

Butylated hydroxytoluene can reduce oxidative stress and improve quality of frozen-thawed bull semen processed in lecithin and egg yolk based extenders.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of anti-oxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), when added at different concentrations into lecithin-based Bioxcell(®) (BX) and two egg-yolk-based; Tris (TY) and citrate (CE) semen extenders, on post-thaw bull sperm quality and oxidative stress. A total of 30 ejaculates from three bulls were collected using an electro ejaculator. Ejaculates were extended with one of the BX, TY and CE extenders, which contained different concentrations (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0mM/ml) of BHT. The extended semen samples were chilled to 4 °C, and then frozen slowly to -196 °C in 0.25 ml straws before being stored in liquid nitrogen for 2 weeks. Results showed that supplementation of BHT improved (P<0.05) general motility, progressive motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity and malondialdehyde of sperm at 0.5mM/ml for BX and at 1-1.5mM/ml of BHT for TY and CE when compared with the control. However, greater concentrations of 2.0 and 3.0mM/ml of BHT had a detrimental (P<0.05) effect compared with the control with all extenders evaluated. In conclusion, BHT supplementation at lesser concentrations (0.5-1.5mM/ml) could improve frozen-thawed bull sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress produced during the freezing-thawing procedures in either lecithin or egg-yolk based extenders.

Alpha-linolenic acid supplementation in tris extender can improve frozen-thawed bull semen quality.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on frozen-thawed quality and fatty acid composition of bull sperm. For that, twenty-four ejaculates obtained from three bulls were diluted in a Tris extender containing 0 (control), 3, 5, 10 and 15 ng/ml of ALA. Extended semen was incubated at 37°C for 15 min, to allow absorption of ALA by sperm cell membrane. The sample was chilled for 2 h, packed into 0.25-ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h. Subsequently, straws were thawed and evaluated for total sperm motility (computer-assisted semen analysis), membrane functional integrity (hypo-osmotic swelling test), viability (eosin-nigrosin), fatty acid composition (gas chromatography) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)). A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of total sperm motility was observed in ALA groups 5 ng/ml (47.74 ± 07) and 10 ng/ml (44.90 ± 0.7) in comparison with control (34.53 ± 3.0), 3 ng/ml (34.40 ± 2.6) and 15 ng/ml (34.60 ± 2.9). Still, the 5 ng/ml ALA group presented a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of viable sperms (74.13 ± 0.8) and sperms with intact membrane (74.46 ± 09) than all other experimental groups. ALA concentration and lipid peroxidation in post-thawed sperm was higher in all treated groups when compared to the control group. As such, the addition of 5 ng/ml of ALA to Tris extender improved quality of frozen-thawed bull spermatozoa.

α-Linolenic acid supplementation in BioXcell® extender can improve the quality of post-cooling and frozen-thawed bovine sperm.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing α-linolenic acid (ALA) into BioXcell(®) extender on post-cooling, post-thawed bovine spermatozoa and post thawed fatty acid composition. Twenty-four semen samples were collected from three bulls using an electro-ejaculator. Fresh semen samples were evaluated for general motility using computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA) whereas morphology and viability with eosin-nigrosin stain. Semen samples extended into BioXcell(®) were divided into five groups to which 0, 3, 5, 10 and 15 ng/ml of ALA were added, respectively. The treated samples were incubated at 37°C for 15 min for ALA uptake by sperm cells before being cooled for 2 h at 5°C. After evaluation, the cooled samples were packed into 0.25 ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h before thawing and evaluation for semen quality. Evaluation of cooled and frozen-thawed semen showed that the percentages of all the sperm parameters improved with 5 ng/ml ALA supplement. ALA was higher in all treated groups than control groups than control group. In conclusion, 5 ng/ml ALA supplemented into BioXcell(®) extender improved the cooled and frozen-thawed quality of bull spermatozoa.

Sperm attributes and morphology on Rusa timorensis: light and scanning electron microscopy.

This study provides standard information on the attributes of sperm and describes the surface structure of normal and abnormal spermatozoa of Rusa timorensis. Two fertile stags were used as the source of semen collected during the first breeding season commencing from April 5 to July 2, 2012. Another five stags were used as the source of semen collected during the second breeding season commencing from April 1 to June 27, 2013. Semen samples were collected from the stags using an electro-ejaculator. The ejaculate was processed and samples prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) according to standard methods. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found between sperm attributes in comparison between different stags and different months of the fertile seasons. The results of this study have also demonstrated that there are no differences in size, shape and surface structure between spermatozoa of the different stags and different months of the fertile seasons. Sperm attributes (volume, pH, sperm concentration, general motility, progressive motility and viability) were 2.2±0.29 ml, 7.2±0.17, 886.3±39.7×10(6) spermatozoa/ml, 78.7±2.01%, 80.8±1.85% and 83.2±0.85%, respectively. Morphological analysis showed low percentage of abnormal spermatozoa 13.9±2.88%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed spermatozoa which consisted of a flat paddle-shaped head, short neck and a tail, which was subdivided into midpiece, principal piece and endpiece. The average spermatozoon was 66.2±0.69 µm in total length. The flat paddle-shaped head was 7.8±0.28 µm long, 4.2±0.15 µm at its widest width, 2.4±0.18 µm basal width and 0.7±0.0 2µm thick. As for the tail, the midpiece length was 13.2±0.14 µm, 0.6±0.04 µm in diameter; the principal piece was 42.6±0.04µm, and 2.8±0.06 µm for the endpiece. Abnormal spermatozoa such as tapered head, microcephalic head, decapitated spermatozoa and bent tails were observed. Results provide standard information useful for development of strategies for semen cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technology in this species.