The Effects of Canola Oil, Vitamin E, and Selenium Supplementation in the Ration on Blood Metabolites Profile and Liquid Semen Quality in Fat-Tailed Rams

This research aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation with canola oil, vitamin E, and selenium on blood metabolite profile and the quality of liquid semen in fat-tailed rams. The livestock consisted of 10 fat-tailed rams aged 10 to 14 months, with an average initial body weight of 23.84±3.91 kg. Randomized block design (RBD) and factorial randomized block design (FRBD) 2 x 2 were used for evaluating performance and liquid semen variables, with two feed treatments (R0: control diet, R1: R0 + canola oil + vitamin E + selenium). The variables measured included nutrient intake, daily body weight gain, feed efficiency, blood metabolites, seminal plasma biochemistry, and liquid semen quality. The results showed that canola oil and antioxidants did not influence dry matter intake, daily body weight gain, and blood metabolites (P0.05). However, there was an increase in the nutrient intake of crude fat, fatty acids, feed efficiency, total cholesterol levels, and blood LDL cholesterol (P0.05). In the ration, Canola oil and antioxidant supplementations were descriptively increased seminal plasma triglycerides and LDL. Additionally, supplementations of canola oil and antioxidants in the feed reduced seminal plasma glucose and cholesterol levels. The administration of canola oil and antioxidants did not affect sperm viability (P0.05) but increased liquid semen motility on day 3 (P0.05). In conclusion, supplementing canola oil, vitamin E, and selenium in the diet of fat-tailed rams increased total cholesterol and LDL levels in the blood while reducing cholesterol concentration in seminal plasma. Additionally, these dietary interventions improve nutrient intake and feed efficiency and extend the shelf life of liquid semen.