Introducing Soybean Oil in Semen Extenders of Awassi Rams

Abstract

The aims of the study was to investigate the possibility of using an plant lecithin; commercial soybean oil (SO) directly in the components of semen extenders of Awassi rams, storage of semen in chilled technique and the effects of dilution, cooling and storage periods on semen quality. Semen was collected weekly from four Awassi rams by electro- ejaculator. Pooled samples were divided to six equal aliquots and diluted by Citrate egg yolk extender at 37˚C. Treatments were designed on the base of control extender containing 25% egg yolk and four treatments containing different addition of SO (12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50%) and combination treatment of 12.5% egg yolk + 12.5% SO. Treatment tubes were cooled to 5˚C and stored for three days. Semen was evaluated as raw, diluted, cooled and after storage in refrigerator (5˚C) for 1, 2 and 3 consecutive days. Results showed that there were no significant differences among all treatments in progressive motility, dead sperm %, abnormal sperm % and acrosome defect %, while pH were found to be significantly declined (p≤ 0.05) in control group. Significant effects of dilution, cooling, and storage period have been demonstrated with steadily significant deterioration (p≤ 0.05) for all studied characteristics when motility and pH declined while sperm abnormality, dead, and acrosome defect percentages increased. The results clearly indicated successful of using different levels of SO (plant source) as lecithin source instead of egg yolk (animal source of lecithin) without any impacts on the biological characteristics of Awassi ram semen and the process of dilution, cooling and storage periods have deterioration effects on semen quality.