THE PRODUCTION OF FREEZE-DRIED EGG YOLK POWDER AND ITS EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF GARUT RAM LIQUID SEMEN

This research aims to evaluate the protective potency of freeze-dried egg yolk powder on Garut ram sperm during the liquid semen preservation process. Semen with good sperm quality was divided into three groups and diluted using the following Tris diluents: fresh egg yolk-Tris (FEY-Tris), commercial egg yolk powder-Tris (CEY-Tris), and freeze-dried egg yolk powder-Tris (DEY-Tris). Semen that had been diluted was observed every 12 hours until sperm progressive motility was 50%. Sperm quality was tested for progressive motility percentages, viability, intact plasma membrane (IPM), and intact acrosome (IA). Fresh egg yolk had a particle size of 14460.00±330.76 nm, with polydispersity index value (PI) and zeta potential (ZP) being 1.00±0.11 and -9.22±0.30 mV, respectively. The particle size of commercial egg yolk powder was 877.90±168.86 nm with PI value 0.34±0.04 and ZP-28.7±1.24 mV. The particle size of freeze-dried egg yolk powder was 1296.00±86.73 nm, with PI value 0.70±0.04 and ZP -34.5±0.64 mV. Progressive motility percentage showed that DEY-Tris diluent managed to survive to 51.11±6.06% for 168 hours, compared to FEY-Tris (51.25±6.74%) which survived for 156 hours, although no longer than CEY-Tris diluent (53.47±6.33%) which survive for 180 hours (P0.05). Higher sperm motility was also supported by viability percentage, IPM, and IA, which were all higher (P0.05). In conclusion, freeze dried egg yolk powder mixed with Tris buffer was able to maintain sperm quality during the liquid semen preservation process.

Effects of the carbonated drink as an extender on semen characteristics, fertility and hatchability in Nigerian indigenous chicken

Semen extenders are liquid diluents that buffer sperm cells and preserve their fertilizing potentials. The commercial carbonated drink (CD) as an extender was evaluated on semen characteristics, fertility and hatchability in Yoruba ecotype chickens (YECs). The fructose of the CD was 1.52?0.05 mg/ml. Under the conditions of 370Celsius, 5% and 10% of CD were added to the egg yolk citrate solution to make 100%. Semen was obtained from ten matured Yoruba ecotype chicken cocks with an average weight of 1.8?0.2 kg. The semen was pooled in a test tube and added to the extenders for preservation at 0, 30 and 60 minutes, respectively, in a factorial design layout. Percentage motility of sperm cells was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 5% CD inclusion compared with 10% CD inclusion and control. Motility decreased with an increase in preservation time across the treatments. The percentage of dead sperm cells decreased (p<0.05) in 5% CD inclusion when compared with 10% CD inclusion and control. The sluggish sperm percentage increased significantly (p<0.05) with semen preservation time. Fertility and hatchability of eggs were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 5% CD inclusion. It was concluded that carbonated drinks at 5% inclusion in an extender could preserve cock sperm cells for 60 minutes with improved fertility and hatchability of eggs.

Evaluation of a panel of spermatological methods for assessing reprotoxic compounds in multilayer semen plastic bags

The increase of fertility performance in sows is one of the biggest achievements in pig production over the last 30 years. Nevertheless, pig farms using artificial insemination (AI) repeatedly experienced in recent year’s fertility problems with dramatic consequences due to toxic compounds from plastic semen bags. In particular, bisphenol A diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) present in multilayer plastic bags can leach into the semen and could affect the functionality of the spermatozoa. Former studies could not find any alterations in spermatozoa based on the exposure to BADGE. The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of BADGE on boar spermatozoa using an extended panel of spermatological methods. In spring 2019, a large drop in farrowing rates from 92.6 ± 2.3% to 63.7 ± 11.1% in four sow farms in Croatia was detected. In migration studies, BADGE could be identified as a causal toxic compound and leached into the extended semen in concentration of 0.37 ± 0.05 mg/L. Detailed spermatological studies showed that significant predictors for effects on spermatozoa were different levels of motility and kinematic data after a prolonged storage time, thermo-resistance test (prolonged incubation time), mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity and fluidity. No serious effects were observed for sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation. These results provide new insights into the development of a new quality assurance concept for a detailed spermatological examination during testing of plastic materials for boar semen preservation. It could be shown that boar spermatozoa are an excellent biosensor to detect potential toxicity and fertility-relevant compounds.

Viability of Peranakan Etawah Liquid Semen Preserved in Tris Substituted with Various Energy Sources

The use of liquid semen for artificial insemination program of Etawah crossbreed goat (PE) is an alternative to replace frozen semen which is constrained by limited and expensive facilities. Production of liquid semen is faster than frozen semen, but the viability of liquid semen which preserved with a standard extender such as tris egg yolk is very short. The purpose of this study was to determine the viability of PE goat semen in egg yolk tris substituted with energy sources such as glucose, galactose, and mannose and to determine the most efficient energy source for semen preservation. This research was conducted from August to September 2018 at the Artificial Insemination Center in Lembang, West Java. This study was designed in a randomized block design (RBD) consist of three experimental groups divided into five groups. Fresh semen of PE goats were preserved using extender which energy source has been modified. Results showed that using glucose in PE goat semen extender produced the best motility among other groups (64.29 ± 9.2%). The highest viability was found in extender with fructose substitution (86.76 ± 2.3%). The longest viability of liquid semen was found in the extender with glucose substitution. It lasted for six days.

State-of-the-Art and Prospective of Nanotechnologies for Smart Reproductive Management of Farm Animals

Many biotechnological assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are currently used to control the reproductive processes of farm animals. Nowadays, smart ART that considers technique efficiency, animal welfare, cost efficiency and environmental health are developed. Recently, the nanotechnology revolution has pervaded all scientific fields including the reproduction of farm animals, facilitating certain improvements in this field. Nanotechnology could be used to improve and overcome many technical obstacles that face different ART. For example, semen purification and semen preservation processes have been developed using different nanomaterials and techniques, to obtain semen doses with high sperm quality. Additionally, nanodrugs delivery could be applied to fabricate several sex hormones (steroids or gonadotrophins) used in the manipulation of the reproductive cycle. Nanofabricated hormones have new specific biological properties, increasing their bioavailability. Applying nanodrugs delivery techniques allow a reduction in hormone dose and improves hormone kinetics in animal body, because of protection from natural biological barriers (e.g., enzymatic degradation). Additionally, biodegradable nanomaterials could be used to fabricate hormone-loaded devices that are made from non-degradable materials, such as silicon and polyvinyl chloride-based matrixes, which negatively impact environmental health. This review discusses the role of nanotechnology in developing some ART outcomes applied in the livestock sector, meeting the concept of smart production.