Effect of Various Levels of Sage (Salvia officinalis) Essential Oil Drenching on Some Semen Parameters in Different Periods of Saanen Goat Bucks

The current study investigates the impact of varying doses of sage essential oil on the overall quality of Saanen buck goat semen. Fifteen Saanen bucks were used in this study. They were divided randomly into three groups (n=5) as follows: T1=control received 2 ml distilled water, T2=received 40 mg of sage essential oil/kg BW, and T3=received 80 mg of sage essential oil/kg BW. Sage essential oil was administered orally once weekly for 3 months in all treated groups. Semen samples were collected at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. During semen collection, sperm quality was evaluated, including volume, pH, color, motility, live and abnormal sperm, plasma membrane integrity, and DNA fragmentation. The findings indicated a significant enhancement (p≤0.05) in T2 after 6 weeks in the live sperm, a reduction DNA fragmentation and fewer abnormal sperm compared to the first group. In addition, T3 showed a significant difference (p≤0.05) in volume and individual sperm motility compared to the T1 group. At the same time, the data showed a substantial enhancement in T3 after 12 weeks in the volume, color, mass activity, individual sperm motility, and DNA damage compared to the T1 group. In addition, T2 showed a significant difference (p≤0.05) in the live and less abnormal sperm compared to the T1 group. In conclusion, Saanen buck goats treated with either 40 or 80 mg/kg BW showed significant improvements in their semen quality, DNA damage, and plasma membrane integrity. A new investigation is needed to test the effect of Sage on antioxidant parameters in goat semen.