Effects of Multi-enzyme Feed Additive “Kemzyme” or/and Sodium Bentonite “as a Feed Binder” on Sexual Activity and Some Fertility Parameters of Rabbit Bucks | Chapter 06 | Research and Development in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2
Aims:
The present study was conducted to clarify the effect of Kemzyme or Bentonite
and their mix as feed additives on the main semen characteristics, testicular
enzyme markers, plasma testosterone level and fertility indices of bucks.
Study Design: Twenty- four mature
male New Zealand White bucks were equally divided into four groups (6 in each).
The first group was the control group (C) the animals were kept untreated and
were fed the basal diet without additives. The second group (K) was
supplemented with 0.1% “Kemzyme”, a multi-enzyme blend of Kemin Agrifoods
Europe, composed of cellulases, amylases, proteases and lipases. The third
group (B) the animals were supplemented with 2% sodium bentonite [1] which
purchased from (Morgan for chemicals - Egypt) while the fourth group (KB) was
supplemented with 0.1% Kemzyme plus 2% sodium bentonite. Doses of supplemented
additives were mixed with the basal ration pellets.
Place and Duration of Study: The
study was conducted in the experimental rabbitry of Physiology Department,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cairo University. The treatment lasted for 10
weeks to cover a complete spermatogenic cycle.
Methodology: The rabbits were housed
individually in commercial cages (55×60×34 cm), equipped with automatic
drinkers and j-feeders. Daily lighting regime was 10-12 hours photoperiod /day
through both natural and fluorescent lighting. A commercial pelleted diet of
16.7% crude protein, 13.7% crude fiber and 2590 kcal of digestible energy per
kg (Atmida Feed Company, Egypt) was offered ad libitum. Clean, fresh water was
available all times. The diet subjected to chemical analysis according to [2].
Kemzyme”, a multi-enzyme blend of Kemin Agrifoods Europe, composed of
cellulases, amylases, proteases and lipases. Sexual activity of the bucks was
evaluated through behavioural testing "mating test". On the test day,
a receptive female was introduced to the male'cage and the following behavioral
parameters were recorded according to [3] and [4] during 10 min testing period
for each buck: latency to mount, time from introduction of the female until the
first mount with pelvic thrusting; mating latency "reaction time",
time from introduction of the female until the first ejaculation; interval
between the first and second mating as a measure of libido. The previously
mentioned parameters were measured in seconds using a stopwatch. Total number
of mounts and ejaculations were also recorded. Each male in the different
groups was tested three times, two days after each semen collection .At the
beginning of the ninth week of the treatment, Semen collection was done by
using a teaser female and artificial vagina that was locally fabricated as
described by [5] Semen was collected weekly for three consecutive times and in
every collection two successive ejaculations (with a lag of 15 min.) were
obtained from each buck between 8:00 to 10:00 h to ensure optimum quality of
semen obtained [6,7]. The volume of each ejaculate was recorded (using a
graduated collection tube) after removal of the gel mass. A weak eosin solution
[8] was used for evaluation of sperm concentration by the
improved Neubauer haemocytometer slide (GmbH & Co., Brands twiete 4, 2000
Hamburg 11, Germany). Total sperm output was calculated by multiplying semen
ejaculate volume and semen concentration. Assessment of live, dead, and
abnormal spermatozoa were performed using an eosin–nigrosin blue staining
mixture [9]. The percentages of motile sperm and motility grade were estimated
by visual examination under high-power magnification (40×) using an ordinary
microscope with heated stage. Motility was scored as follows: 0 = no movement;
1 = twitching, no forward progressive movement (fpm); 2 = slow fpm; 3 = good
fpm; and 4 = fast fpm.The two motility parameters were combined to yield; Sperm
motility index: SMI = percentage motile X motility grade [10] Total number of
motile sperm (TMS) was calculated by multiplying percentage of motile sperm and
total sperm outputs.Seminal plasma was obtained by centrifugation of semen
samples at 860 X g for 20 min, and was stored at −20°C until analysis. The
activities of seminal plasma lactate dehydrogenase /LDH [11], Alkaline
phosphatase / ALP [12] and Gamma glutamyle transferase /GGT [13] were measured
spectrophotometerically by using kinetic mode. Total lipids were also measured
in the seminal plasma according to method of [14]. For evaluation of their
fertility parameters, bucks of the different groups were bred with 24 receptive
nulliparous female rabbits and their parameters were recorded for each group
according to [15] kindling rate, total born and total born alive litter also
stillborn kits were monitored,Blood samples were collected from the ear vein of
all animals in the morning before accesses to feed and water. Heparin was used
as anticoagulant.
Plasma was obtained centrifugation of samples at 860×g for 20 min and was
stored at -20°C until used for determination of total testosterone [16,17].
Data of the experiment for all variables were subjected to ANOVA as a
completely randomized design according to [18]. Means were compared by Least
Significant Difference (LSD) test at 0.05 significant level [19].
Results: The current result
indicated that;significant sexual performance and higher libido of rabbit bucks supplemented
with 0.1% “Kemzyme”, a multi-enzyme blend of Kemin Agrifoods.
Conclusions: Kemzyme supplementation
in bucks was associated with improved sexual activity indices, improved semen
parameters and steroidogensis. Its application as fertility enhancer should not
be neglected. Bentonite, although it was claimed to have a growth promoting
effect, its influence on animal sexuality and fertility was unsatisfactory.
Practically, it could be considered that (K) supplementation is a good
reproductive promotant tool in the field of rabbit production.
Author(s) Details
Sohair Y. Saleh
Department of Physiology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Kamal A. Attia
Department of Physiology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Prof. Dr. Manal A. Fouad
Department of Hygiene and
Veterinary Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Maaly M. Nassar
European Molecular Biology
Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Welcome Trust Genome
Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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