Semen Quality of Etawah Crossbreed Bucks Fed with Urea Moringa Molasses Multinutrient Block Supplemented with Native Grass Basal Feed

Abstract

Moringa leaves contain high and complete nutrients, so they can be used as a making block for multinutrient blocks to improve semen quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of using moringa leaf flour in a multinutrient block on the semen quality of Etawah crossbreed (EC) bucks fed by the native grass as basal feed. This study used eight heads of EC bucks aged 36.72±1.06 months with a bodyweight of 54±2.97 kg, which was kept intensively in individual cages for eight weeks. EC bucks were four heads to fed Urea Molasses Multinutrient Block (UMMB) supplement as a control, and four heads EC bucks were fed Urea Moringa Molasses Multinutrient Block (UMMMB) as a treatment. The EC bucks were fed the native grass ad libitum basis as the basal feed. Bodyweight and scrotal circumference measurements were carried out in the first, fourth, and eighth weeks to determine the performance of the experimental goats used. Semen collection for assessing the quality of fresh semen is carried out every week from week 4 to week 8. The variables measured were compared using the independent sample t-test. UMMMB supplementation was not significant (P>0.05) decreased feed consumption ratio, increased body weight, and scrotal circumference (3.10±0.02 vs 2.99±0.09 kgDM; 0.12±0.01 vs 0.14±0.04 kg/day; and 0.04±0.02 vs 0.05±0.01 cm). UMMMB supplementation did not significantly (P>0.05) improve the quality of fresh semen including volume, concentration, viability, abnormalities, and intact plasma membrane (1.1±0.06 vs 1.1±0.05 ml; 389±25.43 vs 419±11.49×107; 86.74±1.16 vs. 88.66±1.30%; 5.41±0.43 vs. 5.61±0.64%; and 87.00±1.11 vs. 88.94±0.63). Vice versa UMMMB supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the total motility of sperm the EC bucks (76.72±1.16 vs 80.26±0.61%). The Results of the present study demonstrated that UMMMB supplementation can improve the sperm quality of EC bucks.