The antioxidant enrichment of Duroc boar diet and its effect on quality of ejaculate during the summer season

Good quality of ejaculate is very important for the amount of produced insemination doses (ID). Main monitored parameters are volume of ejaculate, concentration of sperm, sperm motility and morphologically abnormal sperm. During the oxidative stress of organism sperm cells are damaged by the free radicals, especially by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress is considered as one of the main causes of male infertility. In this study we monitored qualitative and quantitative parameters of boars ejaculate during summer season, when we have assumed the heat stress. Two groups of Duroc boars were monitored. First was the control group (n = 6) without any antioxidant supplements in their diet. Second group was the experimental group (n = 6) with supplementation of antioxidant complex (selenium, zinc, vitamin E and C) in their diet. The results have been compared after four months of experimental period. In motility, there was statistically significant difference between groups after two months by 8.06% (P < 0.05). In experimental group, motility did not decreased below required level (70%) unlike the control group. In morphologically abnormal sperm, there was observed statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in control group, even above the required level (20%) for ID preparation.