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Effect of different forms of rumen-protected fat from palm oil on body weight and sperm quality in Malin sheep

Mohd Hafizal Ahmad^1,2, Loh Teck Chwen¹, Mashitah Shikh Maidin², and Anjas Asmara Samsudin^1*

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, UPM
²Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia
³Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, UPM

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2021 24(1): 64-75

Click to view the abstract

The study purpose was to evaluate the effect of different forms of rumen-protected fat (RPF) that 
is high in fatty acid on body weight and sperm quality in male Malin sheep. Twenty male adult 
Malin sheep were randomly assigned to four treatment groups namely; CON: control, PF: 2% 
prilled fat, CS: 2% calcium salt fatty acid and CO: 2% canola oil respectively. No significant 
difference was observed in the body weight changes among the treatment group. Rams that 
received PF had the highest (P<0.05) semen volume while the animal received CO had the highest 
(P<0.05) sperm concentration than other treatment group. A significant increase (P<0.05) in the 
sperm membrane integrity in PF (44%) and CS (42%) than CON. Live sperm was also 
significantly higher in PF and CS group (79%) than control. No significant effect (P>0.05) was 
found in abnormal sperm percentage in animals with different dietary supplements with control. In 
conclusion, the result indicates that supplementation of rumen-protected fat from palm oil to adult 
male Malin sheep helped to improve the sperm plasma membrane integrity and live sperm.