Ghodsi Vahideh, Raad Seyed Amir Daghighi, Ebrahimi Mohammadreza, Parham Abbas
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2025 May 8;57(4):212. doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04459-8.
Sustainable livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions faces significant challenges due to climate change, water scarcity, and limited feed resources. This study aimed to assess the potential of Camelthorn (CT), a drought-tolerant plant, as an alternative feed source to support the growth and reproductive performance of rams in such challenging climatic conditions. Fifteen sexually mature rams were randomly assigned to three dietary groups and fed a basal diet for 75 days, with alfalfa hay replaced by 0%, 50%, or 100% CT. Semen was collected at 15-day intervals, and seminal parameters, including volume, motility, membrane integrity, viability, concentration, and morphology, were evaluated. Additionally, oxidative stress assays were conducted on seminal plasma, while body weight, scrotal circumference, and plasma testosterone levels were assessed throughout the study period. Results showed that dietary replacement of alfalfa hay with 50% or 100% CT had no significant impact on the evaluated seminal parameters, antioxidant levels, body weight, scrotal circumference, or testosterone levels compared to the control group (P > 0.05). These findings support the potential of CT as a viable alternative to alfalfa hay for livestock feed in arid/semi-arid regions. However, further research is needed to fully assess the long-term impacts of CT on animal health and reproductive performance.
由于气候变化、水资源短缺和饲料资源有限，干旱和半干旱地区的可持续畜牧业生产面临重大挑战。本研究旨在评估骆驼刺（CT）这种耐旱植物作为替代饲料来源的潜力，以支持公羊在如此具有挑战性的气候条件下的生长和繁殖性能。将15只性成熟的公羊随机分为三个饮食组，饲喂基础日粮75天，用0%、50%或100%的骆驼刺替代苜蓿干草。每隔15天采集一次精液，并评估精液参数，包括体积、活力、膜完整性、存活率、浓度和形态。此外，对精浆进行氧化应激测定，同时在整个研究期间评估体重、阴囊周长和血浆睾酮水平。结果表明，与对照组相比，用50%或100%的骆驼刺替代苜蓿干草对评估的精液参数、抗氧化水平、体重、阴囊周长或睾酮水平没有显著影响（P>0.05）。这些发现支持骆驼刺作为干旱/半干旱地区牲畜饲料中苜蓿干草可行替代品的潜力。然而，需要进一步研究以全面评估骆驼刺对动物健康和繁殖性能的长期影响。
