WS Effects of octacosanol on non-seasonal spermatogenesis in ovine

Abstract Text: This study was conducted to understand the benefits of utilizing octacosanol as an additive to increase fertility of rams during the non-seasonal time of the year.  Rams of Suffolk and Rambouillet influence were placed on a 60-d trial to determine the value of octocasanol as a feed supplement to promote semen production through the summer months.  Rams were randomly divided into two groups of mixed breeds.   Treatment group was fed a balanced ration containing 0.25% octocasanol per ton, while control rams were fed identical ration with no added octocasanol.  Rams were fed at the rate of 6 lbs a day with alfalfa hay supplementation three times a week. Final collection was June 27 when ambient stress is generally at its highest point. Semen characteristics such as scrotal circumference, volume, concentration, and motility were used in the evaluation of the success of the product.  Scrotal circumference (SC) measurements taken at onset of project to final showed no significant differences among control or treatment (P=0.21) respectively although, the treatment group saw a larger increase in SC when compared to control (0.81±.01, 0.31±.01) respectively.  Volume of ejaculate of both treatment and control also showed no significant difference from initial to final collection (P=0.13) although as SC in the middle of summer the treatment group did show some increase when compared to control (0.32±.01, -0.60±.01 respectively).  The same progressions were observed with concentration and motility of ejaculates from beginning to final collection although again there was no significance (P=0.51, P=0.34 respectively).  Concentration of ejaculate from treatment, again showed some increase from the control rams (2.32 x 10⁹, -1.28 x 10⁹ respectively).  Like the previous measurements, motility also showed an increase from the treatment group when compared to the control rams (0.31 x 10⁹, -0.27 x 10⁹ respectively). Rams fed octacosanol for 60 d tended to have larger scrotal circumference, produced larger ejaculates with greater volume and sperm concentrations than control rams during the harshest period of the year for these parameters.

Keywords: Octacosanol, spermatogenesis, ovine