Effect of Humic and Fulvic Acids Mixture Treatment on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Damascus Goat Bucks: 1. Thermoregulation, Body Weight, Sexual Desire and Semen Quality under Heat Stress Condition

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine effect of humates, HTs (humic and fulvic acid mixture) on thermoregulation, body weight, sexual desire and semen quality of Damascus goat bucks under summer hot condition. The experimental work of this study was carried out at Sheep and Goats Breeding Research Department, Animal Production Research Institute. The experimental period lasted for 5 months, two months as primary period (April-May) and three months (Jun-August, 2017) as a semen collection period. During an experimental period of 5 mo, fifteen Damascus goat bucks weighing 31-33 kg and with 14-15 mo old were divided to three groups (n=5). Bucks of the 1 st group (G1) had no treatment (control), but bucks in the second and third groups were daily administrated orally with 50 mg HTs (G2) and 100 mg HTs (G3) per kg live body weight of buck, respectively. The determined amount of humic and fulvic acids mixture in powder form was mixed with distilled water in an emulsion dose of 5 ml/buck during treatment period. Throughout the experimental period, ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH %) were recorded weekly and the physiological measurements were determined (13:00-14:00 h) and temperature-humidity index (THI) was estimated. All bucks were fed the same ration (concentrate feed mixture, berseem hay and rice straw and kept under the same housing and managerial conditions. Hair (HT), skin (ST), rectal (RT), scrotal (SCT) and ear (ET) temperature degrees, respiration (RR) and pulse (PR) rates were determined. Live body weight of bucks (LBW) was determined during the experimental period. Body measurements (length, depth and chest circumference), and ear length were determined pre-treatment (initial) and at the end of experiment (final). Scrotal circumference (SC) and testicular length (TL) and volume (TV) were measured. Reaction time was determined and semen was collected by artificial vagina. Results indicated that bucks in all groups exposed to very severe heat stress during the experimental months from Jun to August. Both RT and SCT reduced (P<0.05) in G2 and G3, while RR and PR decreased (P<0.05) in G3 only. However, the effect of HTs on HT, ST, ET, internal gradients between RT-ST, ST-HT, RT-SCT and ST-SCT was not significant. External gradient between each of HT, ET and RT, and AT was lower (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1, but gradient between ST-AT was not affected by HTs treatment. Slight differences between groups in buck weights from April up to 1 st Jun, then bucks in G2 were heavier (P<0.05) than in G1 and G2 during July and August. The effect of HTs treatment on body measurements, TV and SC was not significant. Allici treatment increased (P<0.05) testicular length and plasma testosterone concentration, while decreased (P<0.05) reaction time as compared to control. Treatment with HTs improved (P<0.05) all physical semen characteristic and sperm outputs in G2 and G3 compared with G1. In conclusion, bucks in G3 receiving orally dose of 100 mg humic and fulvic acids mixture/kg LBW in hot months ...

The influence of L‐proline and fulvic acid on oxidative stress and semen quality of buffalo bull semen following cryopreservation

“…Also, Li et al (2021) observed that adding 30 mM of Lp to semen extender had favourable results on the TM of post-thawed donkey sperm. In addition, our results are in agreement with Xiao et al (2018) and Abdel-Khalek et al (2019) in bucks, who reported a beneficial effect of FA on sperm motility. These results can be explained by the fact that these compounds may protect the sperm membrane against protein dephosphorylation and cause them to improve sperm motility after freeze-thawing process (Fu et al, 2018).…”

“…( 2018 ) and Abdel‐Khalek et al. ( 2019 ) in bucks, who reported a beneficial effect of FA on sperm motility. These results can be explained by the fact that these compounds may protect the sperm membrane against protein dephosphorylation and cause them to improve sperm motility after freeze‐thawing process (Fu et al., 2018 ).…”

“…that humic and fulvic acid could improve sexual desire and semen quality under heat-stress conditions (Abdel-Khalek et al, 2019). On the other hand, Xiao and coworkers observed that fulvic acid have a cryoprotective effect on freezing goat buck semen (Xiao et al, 2018).…”

“…On the other hand, Fulvic acids are rich in many reactive functional groups (phenols, quinones and hydroxyl), and these groups cause anti‐oxidative activity (Chang et al., 2013 ; Jayasooriya et al., 2016 ). It has been showed that humic and fulvic acid could improve sexual desire and semen quality under heat‐stress conditions (Abdel‐Khalek et al., 2019 ). On the other hand, Xiao and coworkers observed that fulvic acid have a cryoprotective effect on freezing goat buck semen (Xiao et al., 2018 ).…”