Use of vitamin e to improve semen quality of awassi rams during chilled preservation

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of improving chilled semen quality of Awassi rams by adding 0.0 mM vitamin E as control group and concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mM as T1-T6 respectively.

Treatments were preserved at 5˚C for 72 hrs.

Results showed significant increase in motility when vitamin E was added.

For dead sperm%, till 24 hrs of preservation, any of the experimental treatments could significantly differ from the control.

T3-T6 showed lowest percentages of abnormal spermatozoa when preserved for 72 hrs.

The proportion of defected acrosome was the highest in control group after 72 hrs.

The study concluded that vitamin E has capability to improve biological characteristics of Awassi rams semen under chilled preservation; it can be added to the citrate egg yolk extender with recommended level of 3 mM.