High levels effects of vitamins A , D3 , E and C upon semen quality of bulls

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of high levels of vitamins A, D₃, E and C upon semen quality of 20 bulls, 10 of European origin (group I) and 20 zebu bulls (group II) mainly during dry season. The trial had a 6 weeks preliminary step, an experimental period and a post-experimental period of 9 weeks each. Semen collections were made once a week, group I being collected with artificial vagina and group II by electroejaculation. Over 480 semen samples were collected from the 20 bulls. The animals were fed daily 4kg of a concentrate ration containing 40000 IU of vitamin A, 4000 IU of vitamin D₃ and 40mg of vitamin E, besides grass. During the experimental period each animal received additionally “per os” 15ml of a vitamin A, D₃,C complex, containing 50000 IU of vitamin A, 5000 IU of vitamin D₃ , 30mg of vitamin E and 100mg of vitamin C per ml. Differences between periods were not significant regarding semen quality. It appears that the feeding of 15ml vitamin A D₃, E, C Complex daily in addition to the normal ration did not increase the volume of semen produced by the bulls or the spermatozoa concentration in the semen, as so it did not improve the motility of the spermatozoa and did not change the per cent of abnormal spermatozoa.