APPLICATION OF HERBAL EXTRACTS AS ANTIOXIDANT AGENTS IN RAM SEMEN – A REVIEW

Semen preservation is an important tool in livestock reproduction, allowing for the widespread use of high-quality genetics in artificial insemination programs. However, the process of semen preservation often leads to oxidative stress, a major cause of sperm damage, including lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and reduced motility. In response to this challenge, the use of antioxidants has been explored to mitigate oxi-dative damage in semen. Recently, there has been growing interest in the application of herbal extracts as natural antioxidant agents in ram semen preservation. This review explores the potential benefits and mecha-nisms of action of herbal extracts as antioxidants in ram semen, highlighting their role in improving semen quality and fertility.