Effect of omega-3 fatty acids enriched diet on semen characteristics in Marwari horses

S K RAVI; H KUMAR; S VYAS; K NARAYANAN; S KUMARI; J SINGH; M H JAN

doi:10.56093/ijans.v86i6.59241

Authors

S K RAVI ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
H KUMAR ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
S VYAS ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel Bikaner, Rajasthan
K NARAYANAN ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh
S KUMARI ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
J SINGH ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
M H JAN ICAR-Central Buffalo Research Institute, Hisar, Haryana

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v86i6.59241

Keywords:

Horse, Marwari, Omega-3 fatty acids, Semen

Abstract

The effect of w-3 fatty acid supplementation in the diet on various characteristics of fresh and frozen semen was investigated in Marwari horses. Stallions (6) were fed a standard diet daily from week –13 to week 0 (pre- supplementation phase) followed by supplementation of fish oil, a rich source of n-3 PUFA @64 mg/kg BW from week 1 to 14 (fish oil treatment phase) in diets. Ejaculates were collected from all the stallions on weekly basis from week –5 to 0 and week 9 to 14 during pre-supplementation and fish oil treatment phase, respectively. Effect of n-3 PUFA on ejaculate volume, color and consistency; total and progressive sperm motility, seminal pH, sperm concentration, live sperm and abnormal sperm in fresh semen was non-significant. Similarly, there was no change in the percentage of sperm PTM, HOS reacted sperm, live and abnormal sperm in frozen semen. It was concluded that dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation @64mg/ kg BW to horses for 14 weeks did not affect the semen quality. However, the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA on semen quality may require longer period of supplementation.

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