Effect of vitamin supplements on some aspects of performance, vitamin status, and semen quality in boars12

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of dietary supplements of vitamins on vitamin status, libido, and semen characteristics in young boars under normal and intensive semen collection. Sixty Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc boars were allocated randomly from 6 to 10 mo of age to one of the following diets: 1) basal diet (industry level) for minerals and vitamins (Control, n = 15); 2) basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (ASC, n = 15); 3) basal diet supplemented with fat-soluble vitamins (FSV, n = 15); and 4) basal diet supplemented with water-soluble vitamins (WSV, n = 15). After puberty (approximately 12 mo of age), semen was collected at a regular frequency (three times every 2 wk) for 5 wk. Thereafter, all boars were intensively collected (daily during 2 wk). A recovery period (semen collection three times every 2 wk) followed and lasted for 10 wk. Sperm quality (percentage of motile cells and percentage of morphologically normal cells) and quantity (sperm concentration, semen volume, and total sperm number) were recorded as well as direct and hormone related measurements of boar libido. Blood and seminal plasma samples were taken to monitor vitamin status. High concentrations of B6 (P < 0.05) and folic acid (P < 0.05) were observed in the blood plasma of WSV boars, whereas greater concentrations of vitamin E (P < 0.01) were obtained in FSV boars. In the seminal plasma, folic acid concentrations tended to be greater in WSV boars (P < 0.08). During the intensive collection period, there was a tendency (P < 0.06) for semen production to be greater in WSV boars, the effect being less pronounced (P < 0.10) in FSV boars. During the recovery period, the percentage of motile sperm cells was greater in WSV boars (P < 0.03) and, to a lesser extent, in FSV boars (P < 0.10) compared with Control boars. Sperm morphology and libido were not affected by treatments. These results indicate that the transfer of vitamins from blood to seminal plasma is limited and the dietary supplements of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins may increase semen production during intensive semen collection.

Improvement of Sperm Production in Subfertile Boars byCordyceps militarisSupplement

“…Nutrition is important for the reproductive performance and some studies reported that supplementation with selenium and vitamin E improved sperm quality in boars (Marin-Guzman et al, 1997; and vitamin E increased the concentration of spermatozoa in semen (Brezezinska-Slebodzinska et al, 1995). However, a recent study showed that supplement of vitamin C or vitamin E for 5 weeks failed to affect the sperm production in young (6-10 months) boars (Audet et al, 2004). Similarly, the effect of vitamin C on the reproduction of boars is also inconsistent (Lin et al, 1986).…”

Selenium Supplementation Does Not Affect Testicular Selenium Status or Semen Quality in North American Men

“…Undernutrition delays sexual maturation (Marino and King, 1980), and overnutrition is associated with reduced fertility in overweight men (Sallmen et al, 2006). Experiments in pigs indicate that nutrients are transferred from blood into semen with varying efficiencies that may or may not be associated with changes in sperm function (Audet et al, 2004).…”

Efecto de la suplementación con zinc y selenio sobre la calidad seminal en cerdos

“…Comunmente, el macho reproductor es alimentado con raciones comerciales balanceadas para hembras en gestación o en lactancia, que no cumplen con sus requerimientos nutricionales. Estas restricciones alimenticias que se le imponen al cerdo, pueden llegar a limitar el acceso a micronutrientes (microminerales) requeridos para un óptimo desempeño productivo (AUDET et al, 2004).…”