The benefits of flushing with Lemuru fish oil as a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the performance of reproductive parameters in Garut ewes.

This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the effects of a flushing diet containing Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from Lemuru (Sardinella sp) fish oil on the reproductive performance parameters of Garut ewes. Forty (n = 40) primiparous Garut ewes aged 12-14 months with an average body weight of 28.92 ± 4.94 kg were assigned into four experimental treatment groups. The experimental diets contained roughage: concentrate (30:70%) designated as control concentrate (CNT), flushing concentrate with 6% palm oil (PO), flushing concentrate with 3% palm oil mixed with 3% lemuru oil as DHA and EPA sources (PFO), and flushing concentrate with the addition of 6% lemuru oil (FO). Treatment animals were fed two weeks before and after conception and parturition (8 weeks of total flushing treatment). The addition of fish oil at either 3% (PFO) or 6% (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance of ewes by increasing the litter size, as reflected by the birth of multiple kids (P < 0.05) compared to CNT and PO. Adding fish oil (PFO and FO) also maintains gestation, resulting in increased lamb yield, especially in the FO treatment, which yields the highest lamb yield (0% single lamb birth). The lamb male ratio was also higher with fish oil supplementation (PFO and PO) (P < 0.05). This research revealed a positive effect of 6% Lemuru oil on decreasing embryo loss and increasing the proportion of twin births. These findings thus support the hypothesis that ration flushing with double the required DHA and EPA from 6% Lemuru fish oil (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance in Garut sheep.

The reproductive success of Simmental bovine after sex-sorting under various incubation and centrifugation protocols.

Background and Aim: To enhance the reproductive potential and increase productivity and population of cows, spermatozoa sex-sorting technology is required. This study aimed to examine the effect of sexing sperm, separated using a bovine serum albumin (BSA) column with varying incubation durations and centrifugation methods, for successful artificial insemination. Materials and Methods: Six Simmental bulls and 30 cows (n = 30) as the recipients were selected for this study at Balai Pembibitaan Hijauan Pakan Ternak Sembawa Indonesia. The study parameters included sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and conception rate (CR). The experiment was divided into three protocols to find out differences in some parameters: (1) BSA incubation time effect (P) with P1 (40 min), P2 (50 min), and P3 (60 min); (2) freezing time effect with before freezing and after-thawing treatments; and (3) CR determined by measuring the proportion of pregnant cows following insemination with non-sexed, X-bearing, and Y-bearing sperms without centrifugation (n = 15) (A0, A1, and A2) and with centrifugation (n = 15) (B0, B1, and B2) in the acquired data, which were counted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 program. Analysis of variance was utilized to evaluate all treatments at various levels. Results: The results demonstrated that centrifugation time influenced all sperm quality metrics for sperm containing X and Y (p < 0.05). The non-return rate (NRR) of non-sexed frozen semen, both centrifuged (A0) and not centrifuged (B0), was more significant than frozen semen produced by sexing X and Y spermatozoa. The NRR indicated a value of 80% based on the number of lactating cows. Conclusion: Bovine serum albumin incubation and centrifugation protocols influenced and decreased all sperm quality indicators throughout the sexing procedure and could still be used as a sexing protocol. Furthermore, regarding NRR and service per conception, non-sexual treatment is superior to sexing treatment.