Open veterinary journal · 2026
Effects of combined plant bioactives and probiotic supplementation on ram semen quality outside the breeding season.
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Miteva Natalya Zdravkova, Ivanov Nikolay, Slavov Ivan, Zhelyazkova Kamelia, Alexandrova Ivelina, Laleva Stayka
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: According to many authors, supplementation with a combination of probiotics and bioactive plants influences sexual activity and improves sperm production in rams after mating. It has also been reported to increase ejaculate volume, improve sperm motility and concentration, and result in a low abnormal sperm percentage.
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the influence of a combination of bioactive substances contained in three plant species (Thymus vulgaris L., Origanum vulgare L., and Tribulus terrestris) and a probiotic (ZOOVIT LL) on some basic indicators of ram semen during the breeding season.
METHODS: The study was conducted at the experimental base of the Agricultural Institute in the city of Stara Zagora for 2 months in 2025. Eighteen clinically healthy rams of the Bulgarian Dairy Synthetic Population (BDSP) breed, aged 3-5 years, were raised indoors in group pens with an outdoor yard for walking. The control group (CG) was fed grass hay and 1.2 kg compound feed. Experimental group 1-EG1 received grass hay and 1.2 kg compound feed with supplement (Tribulus terrestris 4 g/kg, T.s vulgaris L. 2 g/kg and O. vulgare L. 2 g/kg) per animal/day and experimental group 2 -EG2 - grass hay, 1.2 kg of compound feed with supplement (Tribulus terrestris 4 g/kg, T. vulgaris L. 2 g/kg and O. vulgare L. 2 g/kg) + ZOOVIT LL 120 ml per animal/day per animal/day manufactured by the "LB Lact BAS" Laboratory. Semen was collected using an artificial vagina, simulating natural ejaculation conditions, and the ejaculate volume was determined using a graduated pipette. For more precise analysis, including pH determination and detailed sperm parameters such as concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, specialized equipment such as the TESTO 205 and the AndroVision® system was used.
RESULTS: The combined application of bioactive substances and probiotics showed statistically significant deviations in volume between the 42nd and 49th days (p ≤ 0.05) in EG2. Both experimental groups reported statistically significant increases in concentration on the 42nd (p ≤ 0.05) and 49th days (p ≤ 0.001), compared to the CG. Progressive sperm motility was significantly improved in EG1 from day 14 (p ≤ 0.05) to day 49 (p ≤ 0.001), while EG2 demonstrated significant increases on day 14 (p ≤ 0.05), 28 (p ≤ 0.001), and 42 days (p ≤ 0.001), relative to CG.
CONCLUSION: The co-supplementation of BDSP ram diets with plant bioactive substances and probiotics (T. vulgaris L., O. vulgare L., T. terrestris, and ZOOVIT LL) significantly and sustainably enhanced the key ex vivo semen quality indicators (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, and total and progressive motility) via synergistic effects. However, in vivo field trials are necessary to validate whether this better semen quality translates into superior pregnancy rates.
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the influence of a combination of bioactive substances contained in three plant species (Thymus vulgaris L., Origanum vulgare L., and Tribulus terrestris) and a probiotic (ZOOVIT LL) on some basic indicators of ram semen during the breeding season.
METHODS: The study was conducted at the experimental base of the Agricultural Institute in the city of Stara Zagora for 2 months in 2025. Eighteen clinically healthy rams of the Bulgarian Dairy Synthetic Population (BDSP) breed, aged 3-5 years, were raised indoors in group pens with an outdoor yard for walking. The control group (CG) was fed grass hay and 1.2 kg compound feed. Experimental group 1-EG1 received grass hay and 1.2 kg compound feed with supplement (Tribulus terrestris 4 g/kg, T.s vulgaris L. 2 g/kg and O. vulgare L. 2 g/kg) per animal/day and experimental group 2 -EG2 - grass hay, 1.2 kg of compound feed with supplement (Tribulus terrestris 4 g/kg, T. vulgaris L. 2 g/kg and O. vulgare L. 2 g/kg) + ZOOVIT LL 120 ml per animal/day per animal/day manufactured by the "LB Lact BAS" Laboratory. Semen was collected using an artificial vagina, simulating natural ejaculation conditions, and the ejaculate volume was determined using a graduated pipette. For more precise analysis, including pH determination and detailed sperm parameters such as concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, specialized equipment such as the TESTO 205 and the AndroVision® system was used.
RESULTS: The combined application of bioactive substances and probiotics showed statistically significant deviations in volume between the 42nd and 49th days (p ≤ 0.05) in EG2. Both experimental groups reported statistically significant increases in concentration on the 42nd (p ≤ 0.05) and 49th days (p ≤ 0.001), compared to the CG. Progressive sperm motility was significantly improved in EG1 from day 14 (p ≤ 0.05) to day 49 (p ≤ 0.001), while EG2 demonstrated significant increases on day 14 (p ≤ 0.05), 28 (p ≤ 0.001), and 42 days (p ≤ 0.001), relative to CG.
CONCLUSION: The co-supplementation of BDSP ram diets with plant bioactive substances and probiotics (T. vulgaris L., O. vulgare L., T. terrestris, and ZOOVIT LL) significantly and sustainably enhanced the key ex vivo semen quality indicators (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, and total and progressive motility) via synergistic effects. However, in vivo field trials are necessary to validate whether this better semen quality translates into superior pregnancy rates.