Fat Supplementation in Diet of Friesian Sahiwal Crossbred Bulls: A Novel Study on Productive and Reproductive Performance and Bio-chemicals Evaluation of Semen Quality Under Hot Summer Sub-tropical Conditions
Fat Supplementation in Diet of Friesian Sahiwal Crossbred Bulls: A Novel Study on Productive and Reproductive Performance and Bio-chemicals Evaluation of Semen Quality Under Hot Summer Sub-tropical Conditions
Naimat Ullah1, Sarzamin Khan2, Muhammad Mobashar3, Shahbaz Javaid4*, Tarique Tonio1 and Asif Mahmood5
ABSTRACT
The current research study was planned to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of fat on productive and reproductive performance, and semen quality of Friesian Sahiwal crossbred bulls during summer season. A total of 24 Friesian Sahiwal crossbred bulls at nearly similar age and body weight were selected and allotted erratically into 3 treatment groups, denoted as A, B and C for a period of 2 months (May and June). Each group was assigned 8 bulls. Bulls in group A were not fed with any dietary fat (control group) while bulls in group B and C were offered 100 and 200 g/kg as fat supplements, respectively. Semen quality parameters i.e. sperm motility and progressive sperm motility (%), sperm concentration (million/ml), live to dead ratio of sperm, amplitude of lateral head displacement of sperm (µm) and straightness of sperm (%) were measured at interval of 15 days. The results showed that dietary supplementation of fat didn’t influence dry matter and water intakes as well as weight gain significantly (P>0.05) among different treatments. Body conditions score was recorded significantly higher (P<0.05) in fat supplemented groups B (3.65) and C (3.78) as compared to group A (3.09). A significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in motility percentage, progressive motility percentage and semen concentration (million/ml) of group B and C. Treatment groups showed no significant effect on straightness of sperm (P>0.05) except live to dead ratio (P<0.01) at 2nd interval of 15 days in May and amplitude of lateral head displacement (µm) (P<0.05) at last interval of 15 days in June. Group B and C also showed significant increase (P<0.05) in testosterone level. However, level of glucose (mmol/lit) and blood urea nitrogen (mg/lit) and triglycerides (mg/lit) were found significantly lower. Therefore it is concluded from the present study that dietary supplementation of fat to crossbred bulls during hot summer tropical conditions can reduce the influence of heat stress on reproductive performance and thus enhances the semen quality.
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December 2019
Vol. 51, Iss. 6, Pages 1999-2399
