Effect of selenium and vitamin E addition to the extender on liquid stored capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen quality

Captive breeding has become an important tool in species conservations programmes, maintaining genetic diversity and restoring wild, endangered populations. In order to improve the reproductive efficiency of captive kept capercaillie, the purpose of the study was to determine the effect of selenium and vitamin E addition to semen extender on sperm characteristic during short‐term storage. Ejaculates collected individually from four capercaillie were divided into two parts, diluted threefold with basic EK extender and EK enriched with 1 mg/ml of organic selenium and 8 mg/ml of vitamin E (EK+Se+E) and stored 24 hr at temp. +4°C. Spermatozoa morphology, motility and motility parameter were evaluated in net, diluted and stored semen samples. Significant (p < .05) differences between individual males were stated in relation to the majority of traits evaluated in the freshly collected semen. Comparing to the fresh semen, a significant (p < .05) decrease in percentage of live sperm in total (by 3.8% points on average) has been observed in samples diluted by EK extender, while in semen diluted with EK+Se+E extender this decrease was lower (1.5%pts on average) and not significant. Also per cent of motile sperm in EK+Se+E extender was higher (p < .05) then in EK (71.6% vs. 58.9%), but taking into account the values of individual males, both extender and male effect on liquid semen storage become apparent. Obtained data allow concluding that selenium and vitamin E addition to EK extender had positive effect on morphology and motility of capercaillie semen stored 24 hr at 4°C and can be recommended for similar studies carried out on other Galliformes species.     

Transformations and effects of urea derivatives in soil

The application of urea phosphate, urea nitrate and thoiurea to a silty clay soil from Nile Delta (pH 7.4, 1,9% CaCO₃) inhibited soil urease activity if compared to urea. The nitrification process of ammonia formed from urea hydrolysis was retarded. The use of these urea derivatives eliminated nitrite accumulation and greatly retarded nitrate formation with increased recovery of urea-N throughout the experimental period. Gaseous losses of urea-N as ammonia or by denitrification were reduced. These derivatives may be much more advantageous than urea if fertilizer effeciency is to be increased.     

Management Strategies Aiming to Improve Horse Welfare Reduce Embryonic Death Rates in Mares

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of management strategies aiming to improve animal well‐being on pregnancy and embryonic death (ED) rates. Breeding records of a cohort of 1206 Thoroughbred mares brought to a stallion station facility, to be bred with the stallions housed there, were evaluated during ten breeding seasons. Mares were blocked according to management strategies in two groups: Stress and Relax. Strategies used to improve animal well‐being (Relax group) were as follows: stopping the teasing routine, reducing or eliminating stall confinement, reducing the number of mares per group and maintaining herd stability during the breeding season. In barren mares, the pregnancy rate was higher in the Relax group (91.8%) when compared to the observed in Stress group (84.7%). However, no difference in pregnancy rates were observed (Stress = 85.2% vs. Relax = 86.2) in foaling mares. ED rate was higher in barren and foaling mares of the Stress group mares (25.5% and 26.8%, respectively) compared with the Relax group (16.1% and 14.7%, respectively). No significant differences were observed on foal heat pregnancy rate between groups; yet, the embryo loss on foal heat was significant reduced in Relax mares (Relax = 8.7% vs Stress = 24.5%). In conclusion, management strategies aimed to reduce social stress can reduce early pregnancy losses and the average cycles per pregnancy, improving reproductive performance in mares.     

Effectiveness of controlled internal drug release device treatment to alleviate reproductive seasonality in anestrus lactating or dry Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hormonal treatments on ovarian activity and reproductive performance in Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season. Forty‐eight multiparous ewes, 24 Barki and 24 Rahmani ewes were divided into two groups, 12 lactating and 12 dry ewes for each breed. Controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was inserted in all ewes for 14 days in conjunction with intramuscular 500 IU equine chronic gonadotrophin (eCG) at day of CIDR removal. Data were analysed using PROC MIXED of SAS for repeated measures. Breed, physiological status and days were used as fixed effects and individual ewes as random effects. Barki ewes recorded higher (p < .05) total number of follicles, number of large follicles, serum estradiol concentration and estradiol: progesterone (E₂:P₄) ratio compared to Rahmani ewes. Lactating ewes recorded higher (p < .05) number of small follicles and lower concentration of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared to dry ewes. Number and diameter of large follicles recorded the highest (p < .05) values accompanied with disappearance of corpora lutea at day of mating. Serum progesterone concentration recorded lower (p < .05) value at day of mating and the highest (p < .05) value at day 35 after mating. CIDR‐eCG protocol induced 100% oestrous behaviour in both breeds, but Rahmani ewes recorded longer (p < .05) oestrous duration compared to Barki. Conception failure was higher (p < .05) in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes. In conclusion, CIDR‐eCG protocol was more potent in improving ovarian activity in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes, but this protocol seems to induce hormonal imbalance in Barki ewes that resulted in increasing conception failure compared to Rahmani ewes.     

Can the Genetic Origin Affect Rabbit Seminal Plasma Protein Profile along the Year?

The study was designed to evaluate the influence of genetic origin on rabbit seminal plasma protein profile variation along the year. Seminal plasma of rabbits from line A (maternal line) and R (paternal line) collected during a natural year was subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). The electrophoretic profile of rabbit seminal plasma resulted in multiple protein bands of different intensity ranging from 9 to 240 kDa. Results showed that seven protein bands were significantly different between genetic lines, and among these, three protein bands were significantly different between seasons. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI‐TOF/TOF or LC‐MS/MS analysis and were the following ones: FAM115E‐like (220, 113 and 59 kDa), ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 3 isoform X2 (72 kDa), annexin A5 (32 kDa), lipocalin allergen Ory c 4 precursor (19 kDa), and haemoglobin subunit zetalike (13 kDa) between genetic lines and FAM115E‐like (113 kDa), haemoglobin subunit zetalike (13 kDa) and β‐nerve growth factor (12 kDa) between seasons. These results indicate that proteins from rabbit seminal plasma are under both seasonal control and genetic control. Furthermore, the differential presence of these proteins could be one of the causes explaining the differences observed in fertility and seminal parameters between these two lines in earlier studies.