Taurine addition into Duroc boar diet and its influence on ejaculate quality

Taurine is the main amino acid in sperm cells and seminal fluid. It plays role in antioxidant system, in capacitation of sperm, in membrane stabilization and improves sperm motility. Pigs have a very poorly developed thermoregulatory system. Boar thermoneutral zone renges form 12 to 20 degrees C. Temperatures above 23 degrees C are considered to thermal. In this study, Duroc boars where divided into two groups (n = 6). Control group was fed by basic diet (12.6 MJ/kg, 3.5 kg/day), experimental group was fed by basic diet with supplementation of 15 g taurine per boar per day. Monitored parameters of ejaculate were volume of ejaculate, concentration of sperm cells, total rate of sperm, motility of sperm and percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm. It has been found, that supplementation of 15 g taurine/boar/day had significant results in sperm motility. In comparison between groups, there can be observed statistically significant differences in motility in June by 0.47% (P<0.05) and July by 0.49% (P<0.05). However, supplementation of taurine into Duroc boar diet had no significant effect on quality and quantity of ejaculate.