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Asian Journal of Poultry Science

Year: 2015 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 85-96
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Authors

Alaa E. Elkomy

Ahmed M. Abd El-hady

Osama A. Elghalid

Keywords

Research Article

Dietary Boron Supplementation and its Impact on Semen Characteristics and Physiological Status of Adult Male Rabbits

Alaa E. Elkomy, Ahmed M. Abd El-hady and Osama A. Elghalid
This study was carried out to assess the effect of Boron supplementation on male rabbit’s reproductive performance. A total of 20 V. Line (V.L) adult rabbit bucks were divided into four equal experimental groups (5 bucks for each). Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed rations supplemented with 17.5, 35 and 70 mg boron/kg feed in the form of boric acid (100, 200 and 400 mg boric acid, respectively) over 8 weeks. The first group was served as a control group. Results obtained by the Boron groups revealed that adding Boron to rabbit bucks rations at any tested doses resulted in a non-significant increase in the ejaculate volume of male rabbit by approximately 25% above the control group. Adding Boron at any dose exhibited a significant increase (p≤0.01) in sperm concentration, total sperm output, sperm motility, live sperm and normal sperm compared to the control group and the high Boron dose had the highest effect on previous measurements compared to the low and medium Boron doses. Opposite trend was shown in the reaction time (libido) and seminal plasma fructose concentration which showed a significant decrease in these parameters in the Boron treated groups compared to the control. Plasma total protein, glucose, total lipids and triglycerides concentration were boosted in the Boron groups compared to the control (p≤0.01) for glucose and triglycerides measurements. On the contrary, treated male rabbits with Boron at any tested doses resulted in a significant reduction in plasma cholesterol concentration. Blood and seminal plasma AST and ALT enzymes activities showed a tendency to decrease by Boron treatments compared to the control group. Treating bucks by different Boron doses resulted in a significant increase (p≤0.01) in Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) to reach 110, 128 and 163% of blood plasma and 114, 121 and 122% of seminal plasma compared to the control value. On the other side, adding Boron to bucks rations did not affect the activity of seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase enzyme. Blood testosterone hormone had a tendency to increase in the Boron groups compared to the control group but this increase was not significant. It could be concluded that feeding rabbit bucks on rations containing the studied Boron doses results in a significant improvement in semen quality characteristics and had a positive effect on their physiological status.
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