Effect of Ferulic Acid on Semen Quality of Goat Bucks during Liquid Storage at 17 °C

Simple Summary: This study aims to explore whether ferulic acid (FA), as an exogenous antioxidant, could improve the quality of goat semen during liquid storage at 17 degrees C. Semen was collected from three black-headed goat bucks and stored at 17 degrees C with different concentrations of FA. The effect of FA on semen quality was evaluated via semen quality detection and antioxidant index analysis. The results showed that adding 50 mu mol/L of FA significantly improved the semen quality from 1 to 5 days. Furthermore, supplementing semen with 50 mu mol/L of FA preserved at 17 degrees C for 3 days had no significant effect on fertility. Overall, adding 50 mu mol/L of FA in dilution improved the quality of goat semen stored at 17 degrees C. This study investigated the effect of different concentrations of ferulic acid (FA) on the quality of goat semen preserved at 17 degrees C. First, semen was collected from three black-headed goat bucks using an artificial vagina. Then, the mixed semen was diluted with basal dilutions containing different concentrations of FA (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mu mol/L) and stored at 17 degrees C. Sperm total motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured during semen storage. The results showed that sperm total motility, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity were significantly improved in the 50 mu mol/L FA group compared with the control group (0 mu mol/L) on days 1-5, and the level of T-AOC significantly increased, while the contents of ROS and MDA significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the goats' conception rate showed that supplementing semen with 50 mu mol/L FA preserved at 17 degrees C for 3 days had no significant effect on fertility. Taken together, our findings suggest that adding 50 mu mol/L FA in dilution at 17 degrees C can improve goat bucks' semen quality.