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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 12, No. 1
Publication Date: February 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/aivp.121.16561
Ngomat, M. S., Ncene, W., Mushimiyamana, D., & Kios, D. (2024). Effect of Feed Rations on Semen Characteristics of Bulls at Kenya
Animal Genetic Resources Center Nairobi Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 572-578.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Effect of Feed Rations on Semen Characteristics of Bulls at Kenya
Animal Genetic Resources Center Nairobi Kenya
Martin Sangula Ngomat
Kenya Methodist University, School of Agricultural and
Rural Development P.O. Box, 267 – 60200, Meru, Kenya
Willian Ncene
Kenya Methodist University, School of Agricultural and
Rural Development P.O. Box, 267 – 60200, Meru, Kenya
David Mushimiyamana
Kenya Methodist University, School of Agricultural and
Rural Development P.O. Box, 267 – 60200, Meru, Kenya
David Kios
Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Center P.O.
Box 23070-00604, Lower Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Livestock play essential part in the Kenyan economy and AI services is one of the
ways to improve the making of milk and meat which are in great demand for
nutritional animal protein. However, the AI conception uptake and success has
remained quite low despite the potential it has to spur animal production. The
study set to investigate the influence of nutrition quantity (DM7.5 Kgs (R1)-Control
nutrients- DM4.4 Kgs (R2) =lower nutrition, R= high nutrients, DM9.5 Kgs (R4)
=highest nutrient) of bulls on semen parameters; quantity (number of reproductive
jumps, number of doses and volume) and quality (concentration, density, motility)
at Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Center, Kenya. The study was an experimental
in design in the Latin square framework involving 32 bulls. The volume, dosage,
sperm concentration, density, and sperm motility (rate, percentage, warm, and
post-thaw motility) of the semen were all measured twice a week. The difference
between treatment means ( SD) was calculated based on the ANOVA framework.
The SPSS aided and significant level set at 0.05. The results showed that feed
quantity, had a significant influence on semen characteristics. The number of doses
were significantly higher in Jersey bulls (529.58 268.72) than in Ayrshire (404.44
188.58) and Sahiwal (430.64 278.72). The volume of semen across different feed
rations was not different (P>.05). The number of doses were significantly lower in
bulls fed on reduced DM4.4 Kgs (R2) feed (391.53b 230.16) compared to doses
from bulls fed on the usual quantity DM7.5 Kgs (R1) feed (514.34a 360.99). The
concentration and density of semen were found significantly higher in bulls on
DM5.0 (R3) and DM9.5 (R4) feeds than the reduced nutrient feed DM4.4 (R2). No
difference in both concentration and density was observed between higher nutrient
feeds (DM5.0 Kgs (R3) and DM9.5 Kgs (R4)) and the usual feed DM7.5 Kgs (R1).
wps
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Ngomat, M. S., Ncene, W., Mushimiyamana, D., & Kios, D. (2024). Effect of Feed Rations on Semen Characteristics of Bulls at Kenya Animal Genetic
Resources Center Nairobi Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 572-578.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.121.16561
Motility (warm), Motility (diluted), Motility (post-thaw) did not differ across types
of feeds. Jersey bulls proved superior in most qualitative characteristics than other
breeds. It produced significantly higher concentrated semen and higher number of
doses than Frisian and Sahiwal bulls.
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is a vital global industry that provides livelihoods for millions of people. Its growth
is crucial for raising rural incomes, supporting the growing number dependent on the industry,
and meeting the food and raw material needs of urban populations. Enhancing agricultural
productivity contributes to industrial growth by providing cheap labor, capital investment,
foreign exchange, and markets for manufactured consumer goods.
Agriculture also plays a key role in reducing poverty, as most of the world's poor live in rural
areas and rely on agriculture. Livestock, which provide over half of global agricultural output,
are viewed as a 'food revolution' in developing countries. Increased production and self- sufficiency could save foreign exchange. Livestock also contribute to rural livelihoods,
employment, and poverty relief, and some have special roles in traditional culture. In Kenya,
the livestock sub-sector accounts for more than 30% of agricultural commodity farm gate value,
10% of national GDP, and at least 50% of agricultural GDP.
Approximately half of the agricultural labor force is employed in this industry. Domestic
livestock also meets local need for meat, milk, dairy products, and other animal goods,
accounting for around 30% of total sold agricultural products. Kenya produces 4.6 billion liters
of milk from cattle, providing a vital source of income for Kenyans. Low productivity, poor
breed characterization, insufficient breeding services, poor animal husbandry, insufficient
extension and advising services, insufficient feeds and feeding are all examples of production
restrictions. The quality of semen determination determines the quality of the subsequent
generations of livestock in terms of quality and quantity of milk and meat and Artificial
insemination, AI, has gained tremendous space as means of improving the quality worldwide.
Animal nutrition welfare, according to Muskan and Brijesh (2022), focuses on delivering
important nutrients such carbohydrates, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins to make up for
nutritional inadequacies in the regular diet and help animals maintain an acceptable level of
performance. Giving and receiving the food that is necessary for an animal's health and growth
is known as nutrition. It involves more than just providing the proper amount of feed (or "gut
filling").
Bollwein et al. (2017) in their study opines that nutrition has an influence on bulls as it
increases the energy intake which accelerates the growing rate. The study further established
that a there was an observable increase in terms of size and weight and epididymal sperm
stores. They attributed this increase to a higher transitory Luteinizing Hormone (LH) peak,
which mediated by an increase in serum Insulin-like Growth Factor Index (IGF-I)
concentrations. To summarize, diet can increase growth, health, and reproductive function, but
more inquiry is needed to have a well knowledge of the reasons behind this phenomenon.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Boitani and Puglisi (2008) opine that the deficiency of various minerals in the bull diet may lead
to reduced libido which directly affects the reproductive circle of the herd. Their research also
demonstrated that the antioxidant phospholipid, hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, which
shields cells from oxidative stress, is linked to selenium, the majority of which is contained in
the testes.
Hosseini et al. (2008) posits that supply of energy related feeds in lambs is significant in the
development of the lambs as it directly affects growth and production of the same. They further
established that the higher the energy diet intake, the higher the reproductive performance of
young bulls. The suggested study indeed targets to establish the exact energy intake within the
total mix ratio and its effect on the quantity and quality of bull semen. According to Carreira et
al. (2017) bulls require a good feeding that will enhance libido and semen quality. They argue
that if under nourished with protein and energy, they will end up having weight loss.
A study by Kumar et al. (2017) revealed if the daily ration of feed is enriched with energy there
is a corresponding proportional production of semen quantity. It was observed that the more
the energy intake, the higher the percent of sperm abnormality. This study was only interested
in the energy component in the buffalo feeding of bulls making it significantly different from
the current study on bulls where the various feed rations are altered to observe the semen
quality of semen shift.
According to Shah et al. (2016) feeding bulls with flax seed oil supplements have a significant
influence on semen quality. When compared to control experiment, these parameters were
found to be have a significant influence. The study concluded that this diet had health benefits
to the buffalo bulls. Unlike this study will scope it objective to a single ingratiate of Flax seed oil
supplementation hence not looking at a total mix ration.
Agreeing to Zhumei et al. (2020) cattle that was fed on locally available feeds plus the fermented
total mixed ration had a better intake of dry matter influencing digestion. This further improved
the milk production in dairy cattle however the milk quality did not have a significant difference
with the control. The study endeavored to treasure out the effect of nutrition not on bull semen
not based on the local general diet alone but on the total mix ratio.
A study by Arthington and Ranches (2021) established a significant influence between organic
trace mineral supplementation and bull semen quality. Unlike Rowe (2011) study which did
not look at the total mix ration but just organic versus inorganic trace mineral supplementation,
the suggestion study is different in a sense that it will consider the total mix ration and observe
their effect on the excellence of sperm produced. According to Purwantara et al. (2020) higher
rations of energy intake influence the bulls’ weight gain and increased scrotal circumference.
This argues may affect their efficiency in semen production as they grow. Further, they
recommend that the bulls should be well fed on energy intake given that they lose a lot of
calories during the breeding season. Since young bulls are still rising, this is particularly
important. Furthermore, low energy levels can cause puberty to be delayed and sperm
production to be impaired.
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Ngomat, M. S., Ncene, W., Mushimiyamana, D., & Kios, D. (2024). Effect of Feed Rations on Semen Characteristics of Bulls at Kenya Animal Genetic
Resources Center Nairobi Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 572-578.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.121.16561
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bryman and Bell (2015) define a research design as a strategy for data collection and analysis
to generate answers to a specific research problem. An experimental research design is a
framework of protocols and procedures established to perform scientifically based
experimental research. Experiments are used to investigate causal links by manipulating some
independent factors and measuring their effect on one or more dependent variables. An
experimental design is a set of procedures used to test a hypothesis methodically. The
experimental procedure was used; that’s, define the IVs, specify the hypothesis, design the
experimental treatment, assign elements to groups and measure the outcome variable (semen
parameters) This study used experimental design in the context of Glaeco Latin Square Design
(GLSD) In assigning the treatment the Latin square design. Latin square is a generalizations of
a randomized block design with two different blocking system. It is used because of the
efficiency of blocking in two different directions, allowed duplication of treatments with
simultaneous blocking of more than one factors as well. However, Latin designs suffer from low
degree of freedom, df. The replication aided to increase the degrees of freedom which Latin
squares suffers from.
There was a total of 122 at KAGRC bull station and out of which 32 bulls met the eligibility of
the Latin Square Design hence, selected for the study. The bulls were categorized into four in
terms of age, BCS in the range 1 to 5, and four types of breeds, the feed quantity was also divided
into 4 categories in terms of dry matter. That’s is DM7.5 Kgs DM4.4 Kgs, DM5.0 Kgs and DM9.5
Kgs. DM7.5 Kgs (R1) was the control experiment which represents the usual feed currently used
at KAGRC. The feed contained 7.5 dry matter; DM7.5 Kgs DM4.4 Kgs (R2). Reduced dry matter,
reduced supplement and concentrates levels prepared by mixing a total of 4.4kg of Dry matter;
DM4.4 Kgs. DM5.0 Kgs (R3)- Moderate dry matter supplements and concentrate levels
containing 5.0kg Dry matter; DM 5.0 and DM9.5 Kgs (R4) is the ration that with highest Dry
Matter containing a total of 9.5kg Dry matter. The study used electronic ejaculator, artificial
vagina, teaser bulls, deep freezer, liquid nitrogen, and semen diluent in semen collection and
storage before analysis.
The semen was collected according to the time schedule drawn in table 1 and subsequently
taken to the laboratory for analysis. This took a period of 180 days from the inaugural day of
feeding. Semen was collected from each bull once per week with 2 to 3 ejaculates collected.
Which was done very early in the morning to avoid heat stress on the bull as it affects
performance. The following procedures were adhered to. First the bulls were washed to
remove the dirt and pre-putial hairs clipped to avoid contamination of the collected semen; the
bull was then left to dry. The bulls from the Frisian, Jersey and Ayrshire were then brought out
and taken to the collection yard where the teaser bull was restrained. The bull is allowed
several false mounts depending on age (affect libido) so as to allow good teasing and this
improves semen collection.
The bull is finally allowed to make a true mount and the steward doing the collection
approaches the bull and directs the penis towards the artificial vagina. The bull made a thrust
into the artificial vagina and the ejaculate was collected on a graduated tube attached to the
artificial vagina. The amount of semen collected was recorded alongside the bull’s name. The 8
Sahiwal bulls were subjected to the electronic ejaculator because they are known to be poor in
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responding to the teaser hence, they electronic ejaculator was used to prompt then to ejaculate
(KAGRC, 2021). Frozen semen was packaged in French straws which were arranged in racks
and then placed in freezer and frozen with liquid nitrogen vapour until they attained a
temperature of -196°C.
The multiple mean comparison in the context of ANOVA was used to evaluate the pair
significant difference existed. The Bonferroni adjustment method was in to determine the mean
differences between different levels of a factor.
ANOVA model with replication yhijk = μ + σh + ρi + βj + τk + ehikk
Where; {
h = 1, . . p
i = 1, . . . p
j = 1, . . . p
and k = dh(i, j) − greek letters
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
The study sought to establish the influence of feed rations on semen parameters across bulls of
different breeds and ages. The ANOVA results presented as difference of mean across different
feed quantities is presented in Table 1 in which it is observed that most of the parameters differ
across bulls on different feed quantities.
Table 1: Comparison Results of semen parameters across different feed rations
DM7.5 (R1) DM4.4 (R2) DM5.0 (R3) DM9.5 (R4) Sig.
Doses/day 514.34a±360.99 391.53b±230.16 457.15a, b±239.91 476.59a, b±246.91 *
Semen volume ml 7.10a±2.50 5.79b 2.05 5.01c±1.66 6.12b±2.40 *
Conc. Million/mm 841,402.99a, b±
466,594.37
751,797.24a±357,262.30 903,604.84b±487,647.81 934,536.29b,
c±480,626.54
*
Density(welfare) 830,563.81a, b±
464,604.48
751,659.19a±
356,546.74
992,443.55b, c±
1,128,644.06
938,584.77b.c±
480,503.33
*
Motility rate 1.67a, b±.65 1.62a±.52 1.80b±.63 1.76a, b±.54 *
Motility (warm) 81.04a, b±4.95 80.60a±4.07 81.53a, b±5.07 82.09b ±3.91 *
Extender 54.34a±39.19 42.55b±38.72 41.86b±27.93 49.24a, b ±27.18 *
doses 265.89a±175.62 198.47b±120.40 203.05b, c±124.20 238.01a, c ±120.14 *
Motility after dilution 79.93a±6.72 80.51a±4.51 80.93a±4.34 80.93a ±4.87 ns
Post Thaw Motility 52.43a±4.86 52.58a±5.05 52.42a±5.00 52.60a ±4.53 ns
conc x 1o power 6 .84a,b±.47 .75a±.36 .90b±.49 .93b,c ±.48 *
In particular, bulls fed on usual feed ration DM7.5 (R1) produced significantly lower
concentrated semen (835,177.29470,4458x106) than bulls on both increased nutrients
rations; DM5.0 Kgs (R3) (992,443.55 1,128,644.06) and DM9.5 (R4) (934,536.29
480,626.54). it was evident that an increase in feed nutrients had positive influence on
concentration of semen produced by the AI bulls at KAGRC, Kenya. Previous studies on diet and
semen quality have linked diet and concentration of semen. Example, Ricci, et al. (2018) also
found that semen concentration increased with increase in nutritional quality of the feeds.
Across the different feeds, the semen of Bulls on DM5.0 Kgs (R3) (increased feed) ration had
significantly higher motility rate than semen of bulls on DM4.4 Kgs (R2) ration (reduced diet)
diet, (p<.05). The rate ranged from minimum of 1.62 .52 (DM4.4 Kgs (R2) feed) to a maximum
of 1.80 .63 (DM5.0 Kgs (R3) feed) across all the feeds. During the study period, the motility
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Ngomat, M. S., Ncene, W., Mushimiyamana, D., & Kios, D. (2024). Effect of Feed Rations on Semen Characteristics of Bulls at Kenya Animal Genetic
Resources Center Nairobi Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 572-578.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.121.16561
rate of the semen was within the normal range important in ensuring the spermatozoa swims
in the right direction and speed for fertilization. However, other motility parameters such as
post thaw motility of semen from bulls fed on different feed rations did not differ across
different feeds. The increase in nutritional content of feeds did not there significantly
contribute to expected increase in post thaw motility in this instance.
Moreover, mean sperm density was significantly lower (p<.05) in bulls on reduced feed, DM4.4
Kgs (R2) (751,659.19 356,546.74) compared to density of spermatozoa from bulls on
increased DM DM5.0 Kgs (R3) (992,443.55 1,128,644.06) and DM9.5 Kgs (R4) 938,584.77
480,503.33 feed program. However, no difference in density of semen from the bulls under the
normal regular feed used (DM7.5 (R1) and from bulls under the reduced feed ration (DM4.4
(R2).
In sum, there was sufficient evidence that quantity of DM taken by bulls determine quality and
quantity parameters of spermatozoa of AI bulls and therefore knowledge of right quantity is
important for reproduction efficiency and superior fertility rate. The higher feed quantities
(DM9.5 Kgs (R4) and DM5.0 Kgs (R3) feed) proved superior in concentration and density of
semen parameters both of which are critical in bull fertility. The bull stewards at KAGRC can
therefore objectively argue for DM5.0 Kgs (R3) or DM9.5 Kgs (R4) for some bulls to foster
semen quality that is affordable to livestock farmers. Finally, notable observation was that some
particular bulls (e.g., URKA, TOPIC) consistently produced high quality semen even under
reduced feed quantity. This observation provided this study the drive to argue that stewards
that accurately identify an optimal feed mix for different breed of bulls can turn around the
semen quality challenges in the country at affordable cost.
CONCLUSIONS
The study concludes that there is a significant positive effect between feeding rations and
quantity and quality of semen among bull breeds across the ages at KAGRC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the study findings, the study made the following recommendations: Quantity of feed
for the bulls is an important factor KAGRC stewards can manipulate so as to address the
persistent quality and quantity concerns of semen produced for its AI services to farmers in
Kenya. For instance, among the four types of possible feeds experimented, the usual DM7.5 Kgs
(R1) feed currently in use at KAGRC was optimal because it produced to highest number of
doses critical in addressing the semen quantity KAGRC face to supply to the farmers in Kenya.
Feeding the bulls with high quantity dry matter rations (DM5.0 Kgs (R3) or DM9.5 Kgs (R4)) is
one of the ways the KAGRC institute can use to produce high concentrated and high density but
motile semen viable for successful AI services to the farmers. The study recommends that for
optimal production of jumps, the bulls ought to be fed on ration 4 which tended to produce the
highest mean jumps compared to the other feeding rations.
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