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Kleve-Feld M, Orlando W, Schulze M. Modern feeding strategies for breeding boars. Anim Reprod Sci 2024:107497. [PMID: 38744579 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Feeding of breeding boars in artificial insemination (AI) centers is critical to maintaining and improving breeding quality and performance in agriculture. Modern feeding strategies for AI boars are aiming towards maximizing their lifetime semen dose output. Given the high growth potential of modern swine genetics, AI boars should be controlled in their daily gain to reduce stress factors for the locomotion system, final body weights, and improve their survivability but also the ease of handling boars. The feeding program should be designed in such a way that young boars (up to 7 months of age) are limited to a daily gain of 400-600 g. Mature boars should be fed towards a body condition score of '2'. Aside from energy intake, protein sources should provide 0.62% SID lysine. As far as minerals and vitamins, special attention should be given to Calcium and Phosphorus as they play a crucial role in bone mineralization. A standardized total tract digestible Calcium-Phosphorus ratio between 1.75:1 and 1.82:1 seems to be most favorable. While certain nutritional requirements are needed to enable the production of ejaculates eligible for AI, considerations should be given to the mitigation of risk factors like mycotoxins, herbicides, and pesticides. Most feed additives and supplements lack consistency in their effect across studies evaluated in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kleve-Feld
- Pig Improvement Company, 100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd. Ste 2200, Hendersonville, TN 37075, USA.
| | - Weasley Orlando
- Pig Improvement Company, 100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd. Ste 2200, Hendersonville, TN 37075, USA
| | - Martin Schulze
- Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, Bernauer Allee 10, Bernau D-16321, Germany
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2
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Han H, Zhou Y, Xiong B, Zhong R, Jiang Y, Sun H, Tan J, Zhang B, Guan C, Schroyen M, Chen L, Zhao Y, Zhang H. Alginate oligosaccharides increase boar semen quality by affecting gut microbiota and metabolites in blood and sperm. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:982152. [PMID: 36071975 PMCID: PMC9441641 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.982152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), natural polymers from brown seaweeds (such as Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, and Sargassum fusiforme), have been reported to possess many beneficial advantages for health. In the current study, after 9 weeks of dietary supplementation, AOS 10 mg/kg group (AOS 10) group increased boar sperm motility from 87.8% to 93.5%, p < 0.05. Moreover, AOS10 increased the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, Butyricicoccus (1.3–2.3-fold; p < 0.05) to increase the beneficial blood and sperm metabolites (1.2–1.6-fold; p < 0.05), and important sperm proteins such as gelsolin, Zn-alpha2 glycoprotein, Cation Channel Sperm-Associated Protein, outer dense fiber of sperm tails, etc. (1.5–2.2-fold; p < 0.05). AOS had a long-term beneficial advantage on boar semen quality by the increase in semen volume (175 vs. 160 ml/ejaculation, p < 0.05). AOS may be used as dietary additives for improving semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of AgroBioChem, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Laboratory, Teaching and Research Centre (TERRA), Gembloux AgroBioTech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Yexun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of AgroBioChem, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Laboratory, Teaching and Research Centre (TERRA), Gembloux AgroBioTech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Bohui Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruqing Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiqing Sun
- YangXiang Joint Stock Company, Guigang, China
| | - Jiajian Tan
- YangXiang Joint Stock Company, Guigang, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Qingdao BZ Oligo Biotech Co., Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Chang Guan
- Qingdao BZ Oligo Biotech Co., Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Martine Schroyen
- Department of AgroBioChem, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Laboratory, Teaching and Research Centre (TERRA), Gembloux AgroBioTech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Liang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Liang Chen,
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Yong Zhao, ;
| | - Hongfu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Lin Y, Li J, Wang K, Fang Z, Che L, Xu S, Feng B, Zhuo Y, Li J, Wu D. Effects of dietary L-leucine supplementation on testicular development and semen quality in boars. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:904653. [PMID: 35909677 PMCID: PMC9334790 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.904653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm and seminal plasma are rich in leucine, and leucine can promote the protein synthesis. This property makes it an interesting amino acid to increase sperm quality of human and livestock spermatogenesis. The goal of this study was to explore the effects of dietary leucine supplementation on testicular development and semen quality in boars from weaning to 10 months of age. 30 pure-bred, weaned Duroc boars (8.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly divided into two groups: control group (CON; fed the basal diet) and leucine group (LEU; fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.2% leucine); then, their body weight and testicular volume were recorded every 4 weeks. Testes were collected for histological and genes expression analysis from 150-day-old boars. Semen was collected and analyzed. Amino acids contents of blood plasma, seminal plasma, sperm, and testes were determined. Dietary supplementation with leucine increased the testicular volume and weight of boars, compared with CON. Sperm viability, sperm count per ejaculation, and average curve speed of sperm in leucine-supplemented boars were increased. Furthermore, leucine supplementation increased the blood plasma and seminal plasma leucine concentrations, and enhanced the gene expressions of branch chain amino acid transaminase, protein kinase B, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and cyclinb1 in the testes. Interestingly, the expressions of the p-mTOR and mTOR proteins in the testes were also upregulated. Thus, dietary leucine supplementation increased leucine absorption and utilization in the testes, promoted testicular development, and improved semen quality of boars, partly through the mTOR signaling pathway.
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4
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Lin Y, Wang K, Che L, Fang Z, Xu S, Feng B, Zhuo Y, Li J, Wu C, Zhang J, Xiong H, Yu C, Wu D. The Improvement of Semen Quality by Dietary Fiber Intake Is Positively Related With Gut Microbiota and SCFA in a Boar Model. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:863315. [PMID: 35633720 PMCID: PMC9130837 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.863315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although fiber-rich diets have been positively associated with sperm quality, there have not been any studies that have examined the effects of dietary fiber and its metabolites on sperm quality in young or pre-pubescent animals. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of dietary fiber supplementation on semen quality and the underlying mechanisms in a boar model. Sixty purebred Yorkshire weaning boars were randomly divided into the four groups (T1–T4). Groups T1, T2, and T3 boars were fed diets with different levels of fiber until reaching 160 days of age and were then fed the same diet, while group T4 boars were fed a basal diet supplemented with butyrate and probiotics. Compared with T1 boars, sperm motility and effective sperm number were significantly higher among T3 boars. Meanwhile, at 240 days of age, the acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents in the sera of T3 and T4 boars were significantly higher than those in T1 boars. The abundance of microbiota in T2 and T3 boars was significantly higher than that in T1 boars (P < 0.01). Moreover, dietary fiber supplementation increased “beneficial gut microbes” such as UCG-005, Rumenococcus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Lactobacillus and decreased the relative abundance of “harmful microbes” such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Romboutsia and Turicibacter. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that dietary fiber supplementation improves gut microbiota and promotes SCFA production, thereby enhancing spermatogenesis and semen quality. Moreover, the effects of dietary fiber are superior to those of derived metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Caimei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Haoyu Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Chenglong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - De Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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5
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Lin Y, Wu D, Che L, Fang Z, Xu S, Feng B, Zhuo Y, Li J, Wu C, Zhang J, Li L. Dietary Fibre Supplementation Improves Semen Production by Increasing Leydig Cells and Testosterone Synthesis in a Growing Boar Model. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:850685. [PMID: 35359689 PMCID: PMC8963373 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.850685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular development is imperative to spermatogenesis, and pre-puberty is the key period for testis development. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of fibre supplementation on testis development and its possible mechanism in a growing boar model. Thirty Yorkshire boars were randomly divided into a control group (Control) and a fibre group (Fibre) from day 0 to 90 after weaning, with three pigs per pen and five pens per treatment. Blood and testes were collected for analysis. Dietary fibre supplementation had no significant effect on growth performance, testicular volume, or libido but increased the semen production of boars. Boars fed with fibre had lower serum cholesterol (CHO) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared to those on the Control diet; however, testicular CHO, triglyceride (TG), and LDL concentration in the Fibre group were significantly higher than the Control group (P < 0.01). Testicular histological analysis showed that seminiferous tubules and testicular germ cells of 120-day-old boars were densely arranged in the Fibre group, and the number of Leydig cells was significantly higher than that of the Control group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the diet supplemented with fibre significantly decreased leptin, leptin receptor (Leptor), and luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations in boar serum (P < 0.05), whereas follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone concentrations were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of AMH, AMHR2, and SYCP3 genes related to proliferation and differentiation, and hormone-related genes STAR and SOCS3, were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). OCCLUDIN expression was up-regulated, whereas CDH2 expression was down-regulated. In conclusion, increased fibre intake during the pre-puberty period in growing boar is crucial for Leydig cell proliferation, up-regulating the expression of genes related to hormone synthesis and thereby promoting the secretion of testosterone and semen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Lin
| | - De Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Caimei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Lujie Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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6
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Wei D, Wu D, Zeng W, Che L, Xu S, Fang Z, Feng B, Li J, Zhuo Y, Wu C, Zhang J, Lin Y. Arginine promotes testicular development in boars through nitric oxide and putrescine. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2021; 106:266-275. [PMID: 34212433 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The present work aimed to explore the influence and underlying mechanisms involving arginine in testicular development in boars. To this end, thirty 30-day-old male Duroc piglets (7.00 ± 0.30 kg) were randomly sorted into two groups, maintained on either a basal diet (CON, n = 15) or a diet supplemented with 0.8% arginine (ARG, n = 15). Blood and testicular samples were collected during the experimental period to analyse amino acid composition and arginine metabolite levels. The results showed that dietary supplementation with arginine increased number of spermatogonia and height of the seminiferous epithelium (p < 0.05). Sperm density, total number and effective number of sperm of the boars in the ARG group increased significantly compared with those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Although arginine supplementation did not affect plasma amino acid levels, testicular arginine levels in 150-day-old boars exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05). The level of serum nitric oxide (NO) and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) also increased in 150-day-old boars in the ARG group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, dietary supplementation with arginine increased testicular levels of putrescine in 150-day-old boars (p < 0.05). These results indicated that arginine supplementation increased serum NO levels and testicular arginine and putrescine abundance, thereby improving testicular development and semen quality in boars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - De Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenxian Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Caimei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Dietary l-arginine supplementation improves semen quality and libido of boars under high ambient temperature. Animal 2017; 12:1611-1620. [PMID: 29198215 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731117003147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
l-Arginine is a nutritionally essential amino acid for spermatogenesis and plays versatile roles in animal health and can be utilized as a potential agent to improve reproductive performance of boars under high ambient temperature. The present study aimed to determine whether dietary l-arginine could alleviate heat stress-induced infertility in boars. In all, 20 boars (PIC 1040; 248.59±3.84 kg BW and 407.65±6.40 days of age) were selected and randomly assigned to four groups (group 0.0%, basal diet; group 0.6%, 0.8% or 1.0%, basal diet added with 0.6%, 0.8% or 1.0% l-arginine (wt:wt), respectively.) The four diets were made isonitrogenous by addition of appropriate amounts of l-alanine. Boars were pre-fed the corresponding experimental diet for 42 days. Then, the semen characteristics and libido were accessed for 6 weeks during the hot summer period (25.5° to 33.0°C). Results show that dietary l-arginine remarkably improved sperm motility, normality, total sperm number and effective total sperm number. Also, dietary l-arginine improved semen antioxidant capacity, such as decrease of malondialdehyde and 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine content in sperm (P<0.05), increase of the ratio of glutathione and oxidized glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in seminal plasma (P<0.05). Most of mitochondria contained intact ultrastructure in l-arginine-supplemented group which also accompany with higher ATP content than the 0.0% group. The boars fed 0.8% l-arginine show increased levels of estradiol-17β and testosterone and exhibit improved libido performance than boars in the 0.0% group. Adding dietary l-arginine linearly increased (P=0.002) nitric oxide content (as l-arginine increased). The scrotal surface temperature in the 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% group were decreased by 0.9°C, 0.9°C and 0.4°C, respectively, compared with the 0.0% group. l-Arginine levels caused linear effect on semen quality and antioxidant capacity, also caused quadratic effect on libido performance. During the hot summer months, the predicted optimal l-arginine levels for best semen quality and antioxidant capacity was 0.8% to 1.0% and for best libido performance was 0.8%. It can be concluded that l-arginine can be used as an effective agent to alleviate heat stress-induced infertility of boar, and that 0.8% to 1.0% can be considered as the optimum dosage.
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8
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Lopez Rodriguez A, Van Soom A, Arsenakis I, Maes D. Boar management and semen handling factors affect the quality of boar extended semen. Porcine Health Manag 2017; 3:15. [PMID: 28770098 PMCID: PMC5525438 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-017-0062-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) is the preferred method for reproduction in the majority of the intensive pig production systems Worldwide. To this end, fresh extended ready-to-use semen doses are either purchased from AI-centres or produced by boars kept on-farm. For profitable semen production, it is necessary to obtain a maximum amount of high quality semen from each boar. This paper reviews current knowledge on factors that may affect semen quality by influencing the boar or the semen during processing. Genetic markers could be used for early detection of boars with the highest fertility potential. Genetic selection for fast growth might jeopardize semen quality. Early detection of boars no longer fit for semen production might be possible by ultrasonography of the testes. Seasonal variation in sperm quality could be associated with changes in photoperiod and heat stress during summer. Comfortable housing, with appropiate bedding material to avoid locomotion problems is essential. In some areas, cooling systems may be necessary to avoid heat stress. The sperm quality can be manipulated by feeding strategies aiming, for instance, to increase sperm resistance to oxidative stress and extend storage duration. High collection frequency will negatively influence sperm quality. Also, if collection is not hygienically performed it will result in bacterial contamination of the semen doses. The concern over bacterial contamination has risen not only because of its negative effect on semen quality but also due to the detection of antimicrobial resistance in isolates from extended semen. Moreover, bacterial and viral pathogens must be monitored because they affect semen production and quality and constitute a risk of herd infection. During processing, boar sperm are submitted to many stress factors that can cause oxidative stress and capacitation-like changes potentially reducing their fertility potential. Dilution rate or dilution temperature affects the quality of the semen doses. Some packaging might preserve semen better than others and some plastic components might be toxic for sperm. Standard operation procedures and quality assurance systems in AI centres are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Lopez Rodriguez
- Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ioannis Arsenakis
- Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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9
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Dong HJ, Wu D, Xu SY, Li Q, Fang ZF, Che LQ, Wu CM, Xu XY, Lin Y. Effect of dietary supplementation with amino acids on boar sperm quality and fertility. Anim Reprod Sci 2016; 172:182-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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