49 - Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Lespedeza on the Semen Quality and Fertility of Male Goats

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

3:05 PM – 3:20 PM CT

Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center, 302A

Presenting Author(s)

RH

Rania Heikal

Graduate Student
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA

Author(s)

JH

Jayla Hicks

Graduate Student
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort valley, GA
BH

Bryanna Holmes

Graduate Student
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
JB

Jalani Brown

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
GD

Gregory Dykes, n/a

Research Assistant
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, Georgia
LW

Lauren Wartley

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
NM

Nallely Mendez

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
AN

Ayesha Neha

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
AS

Arshad Shaik

Graduate Student
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort valley, Georgia
SC

SAI CHANDAN CHELKAPALLY, n/a

GRADUATE STUDENT
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
FORT VALLEY, GA
DB

Davia Brown

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
JC

Jeslyn Crumpler

Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort valley, GA
Niki C. C. Whitley, n/a

Extension Specialist
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
Andres a. Pech-Cervantes, n/a

Professor
Fort valley State University
Fort Valley, GA
TR

Tiffany Reese, n/a

Graduate Student, Animal Science
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, GA
MW

Moges Woldemeskel

Department of Pathology, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic & Investigational Laboratory, The University of Georgia
Tifton, GA
Thomas H. Terrill, n/a

Professor
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, Georgia
Adel R. Moawad, PhD, DVM, MVSc

Assistant Professor
Animal Science Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University,
Fort Valley, Georgia

Abstract: Infertility is a major cause of economic losses in livestock production systems. Parasitic infections are a significant cause of infertility in small ruminants. Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) is a potent anthelmintic in sheep and goats. Positive impacts of lespedeza on male fertility have been reported in rats and rabbits; however, no studies have been conducted on goats. Here, we investigated the effects of feeding male goats with SL or annual lespedeza (AL; Kummerowia stiulacea) on their semen quality and fertility. Forty-nine mature intact Spanish bucks were randomly assigned into three groups and fed diets of 60% hay and 40% concentrate in an 8-week pen study. The treatment hays were SL (n=16), AL (n=17), and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as a control (n=16). At the end of the trial, scrotum circumferences (SC) were measured and the animals were transported to a processing facility for slaughtering. Testicles and epididymides were collected after slaughter for measuring their weights and lengths. Epididymal spermatozoa were retrieved and evaluated for their motility, concentration, viability, abnormalities, and membrane integrities. Sections from testicles and epididymides were also prepared for histopathological examination. Results showed that SC was higher (P≤ 0.05) in SL than AL groups. Testicular and epididymal weights were comparable (P > 0.05) among the three groups. Sperm motility, concentration, viability, and membrane integrities were higher (P≤ 0.05) in SL compared with the AL and control groups. Sperm abnormalities were higher (P≤ 0.05) in control and AL groups than in the SL group. Histopathological examination revealed mild focally extensive seminiferous tubular degeneration and necrosis in AL group. These results suggest that feeding of male goats on SL enhances their sperm quality and fertility parameters.