title: Effect of Supplementation with Agro-industrial By-products and Khat (Catha edulis) leftovers on testicular growth and sperm production in Ogaden bucks.
abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize growth and sperm production parameters in Ogaden bucks fed a basal diet of hay and supplemented with agro-industrial by-products and Khat leftovers in Ethiopia. Thirty-five bucks with a mean (+/-SD) initial live body weight (BW) of 15.5 +/- 1.5 kg were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments for a period of 13 weeks. Treatments consisted of native hay fed ad libitum (control; C), native hay supplemented with a 1% of BW agro-industrial by-products (treatment 1; T1), native hay supplemented with Khat (Catha edulis) leftovers at a rate of 1% of BW (treatment 2; T2) and Khat leftovers fed ad libitum (treatment 3; T3). Bucks fed on T1-T3 had higher BW, body condition score, scrotal circumference (SC), testicular width and testicular length, compared to controls (P < 0.05). Also, bucks in T1-T3 had higher sperm progressive motility, sperm concentration per ml and total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate compared to controls (P < 0.05). Between treatments, bucks in T3 recorded the highest BW (17.2 +/- 0.16) and testicular size (21.1 +/- 0.17 cm). Both testicular and epididymal weight and dimensions were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by supplementation compared to controls. Testicular size was positively correlated to live BW (r = 0.53, P < 0.001). SC was positively correlated with ejaculate volume (r = 0.37, P < 0.001), sperm mass activity (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) and individual sperm progressive motility (r = 0.40; P < 0.001). Supplementation with Khat leftovers induced the highest improvement in live BW, testicular size, semen production and sperm motility in Ogaden bucks and can possibly be considered as a feed supplement to enhance goat production under smallholder livestock farming system in Ethiopia.
authors: Division of Comparative Reproduction, Obstetrics and Udder Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7039, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden. y_mekasha@yahoo.com
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Mekasha
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tegegne
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Rodriguez-Martinez
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D029754:Catha / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005002:Ethiopia; D006041:Goats / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain