Veterinaria

Research article

Dietary Flaxseed supplementation effect on bovine semen quality parameters

Hamayun Khan a, Muhammad Subhan Qureshi a, Ikramullah Khan a, Sajid ur Rehman b,c, Tariq Mehsud c, Ihsan Ullah a, Muhammad Aftab c, Fawad ur Rehman d*

a Department of Livestock Management and Animal breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture, Peshawar-25120, Pakistan

b Department of Poultry husbandry, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar-25120, Pakistan

c Livestock and Dairy Development Department, FATA Secretariat, Warsak road, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar, Pakistan

d State key Lab of bioelectronics, School of Biological science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210096, P.R.China

Abstract

The objective of present was to determine the effect of dietary Flaxseed supplementation (rich source of Omega 3 fatty acid) on the bull sperm quality. Three different cattle breeds (i.e. Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Friesian-Sahiwal crossbred) were used and Flaxseed was given in ration for nine weeks. The fresh semen quality parameters viz seminal volume, sperm concentration, mass motility and percent motility were observed every week. The results showed that the sperm count was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the Flaxseed supplementation and observed higher in Holstein Friesian followed by Jersey breed. Similarly, the mass motility was also found highest in Holstein Friesian followed by Jersey. However, the seminal volume remained non-significant (p > 0.05) among various treated groups. Based upon the results it can be concluded that linseed supplementation might improves semen quality in bovine bulls.

Keywords: Artificial insemination, bull fertility, breeds, Flaxseed supplementation

Received: 07 May, 2015 Revised: 9 September 2015 Accepted: 03 October, 2015

*Corresponding author: Fawad ur Rehman Email: dawarvet@hotmail.com