49 Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Lespedeza on the Semen Quality and Fertility of Male Goats

Abstract Infertility is a major cause of economic losses in livestock production systems. Parasitic infections are significant infertility small ruminants. Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) potent anthelmintic sheep and goats. Positive impacts on male fertility have been reported rats rabbits; however, no studies conducted Here, we investigated the effects feeding goats with SL or annual (AL; Kummerowia stiulacea) their semen quality fertility. Forty-nine mature intact Spanish bucks were randomly assigned into three groups fed diets 60% hay 40% concentrate an 8-week pen study. The treatment hays (n=16), AL (n=17), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as control (n=16). At end trial, scrotum circumferences (SC) measured animals transported to processing facility for slaughtering. Testicles epididymides collected after slaughter measuring weights lengths. Epididymal spermatozoa retrieved evaluated motility, concentration, viability, abnormalities, membrane integrities. Sections from testicles also prepared histopathological examination. Results showed that SC was higher (P≤ 0.05) than groups. Testicular epididymal comparable (P > among Sperm integrities compared abnormalities group. Histopathological examination revealed mild focally extensive seminiferous tubular degeneration necrosis These results suggest enhances sperm parameters.