Effect of selenium on semen quality and fertility of rams

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different doses of selenium on seminal quality and fertility in rams. Design/methodology/approach: Nine rams were evaluated. Selenium was offered subcutaneously at two months of age of the rams each month. Treatments were T1= no selenium, T2= 0.1 mg/kg selenium, and T3= 0.3 mg/kg selenium. Seminal evaluation was performed at seven months of age on the rams using an electroejaculator, and a total of 180 ejaculates were analyzed. The rams with the best seminal quality (one per treatment) were submitted to mating. The variables evaluated were: volume (Vol), mass motility (MM), progressive motility (PM), sperm concentration per mL and per ejaculate, percentage of complete acrosome, percentage of live sperm, percentage of normal sperm and percentage of fertility. Variables with normal distribution were evaluated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA; Tukey, 0.05) and the percentages were raised to arcsine to perform the corresponding ANOVA. Fertility was analyzed with a Chi-square test. Results: Seminal quality and fertility percentage were not different (P >0.05). Ejaculate volume showed differences (P <0.05). Limitations/implications: The study with a larger number of rams and a previous practice in field work for the evaluation of semen parameters is necessary for a better estimation of semen quality and fertility and to verify the results. Findings/conclusions: Selenium did not improve seminal quality and fertility in rams.  Objective: To evaluate the effect of different selenium (Se) doses on semen quality and fertility of rams. Design/Methodology/Approach: Se was administered subcutaneously each month to nine two-month-old rams (from April 2018 to February 2020). The treatments were: T1 = without Se, T2 = 0.1 mg Se kg-1, and T3 = 0.3 mg Se kg-1. Semen evaluations were carried out using an electroejaculator; a total of 180 ejaculations were analyzed. The rams with better semen quality (one per treatment) were subjected to a mating. The following variables were evaluated: volume (Vol), masal motility (MM), progressive motility (MP), sperm concentration per mL and ejaculation, acrosome integrity percentage, living spermatozoa, normal spermatozoa, and fertility percentage. The normal distribution variables were evaluated using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s comparison test (Tukey, 0.05); the percentages were raised to the inverse sine in order to perform the appropriate ANOVA. Fertility was analyzed using a χ2 test. Results: There was no difference in semen quality and fertility percentage (p > 0.05). The ejaculation volume showed differences between treatments (p ≤ 0.05). Study Limitations/Implications: A study including a higher number of rams and a previous fieldwork practice should be carried out, in order to evaluate semen parameters. These evaluations would help to accurately estimate semen quality and fertility, as well as to corroborate the results. Findings/Conclusions: Se did not improve semen quality and fertility of ram