Influence of Honey Addition As a Natural Energy Source On Cooled Camel Spermatozoa

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Camel is an important source of food as well as of transport for large communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of honey (0.0, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0%) addition to Tris-extender on epididymal camel semen quality during storage at 5º C for up to 48 hrs. Eleven healthy dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius), aged between 8 to 15 years, were used in the present study during the rutting season. Percentages of sperm motility, dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, acrosome damage, and membrane integrity were determined. The obtained results showed that the extended semen supplemented with honey at levels of 1%, and 2.5% significantly (P<0.01) improved percentages of sperm motility, intact acrosome, and membrane integrity, while decreased the percentages of dead and abnormal camel spermatozoa during storage at 5ºC for up to 48 hrs. Moreover, the addition of 5.0% honey to the extender significantly (P<0.01) tended to be a deleterious effect on camel semen quality. In conclusion, Tris-extender added with 2.5% honey improved camel semen quality during storage at 5º C for up to 48 hrs.

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