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Biological trace element research2020; 199(9); 3287-3296; doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02447-7

Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions.

Abstract: Trace element status and metabolic milieu are sometimes overlooked in common veterinary clinical practice across animal species. The evaluation of requirements of trace elements, in fact, may be useful to prevent the perturbation of tissue-specific metabolic impair. In particular, essential trace elements in the diet play key roles within sub-cellular metabolic patterns with macro effects at the systemic level, like blood cell stability and semen quality. This effect was studied in breeding stallions, in which semen quality and haemogram are important for reproduction. A case-control feeding trial involved 40 stallions (age: 8-21 years; body weight, BW: 510-531 kg) of one stud centre, allotted to two experimental groups (n = 20 control, CON vs. n = 20 supplemented, SUPPL100), following a matched-pairs approach based on age. Supplemented stallions (SUPPL100) received a mixed mineral and vitamin supplement of Zn/Se and α-tocopherol (α-TOH) (100 g/day stallion) to compound feed, fed as control diet to horses of the control group (CON). Horses resulted deficient in circulating α-TOH and Zn at the start, though clinically healthy. After supplementation, different plasmatic levels of α-TOH, Zn and Se were found between groups. Circulating basophils (BASO) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were affected by the dietary treatment (p  13 years marginal circulating levels of α-TOH (p = 0.04). Ameliorating the micromineral status showed to improve the haemogram of stallions in view of circulating levels of Cu. Semen quality appeared to be strongly dependent on animal effects.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-23 PubMed ID: 33098077PubMed Central: PMC8257538DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02447-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Veterinary
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research project addresses the impact of combined supplementation of Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol on the metabolic condition, blood count and semen characteristics of breeding stallions. It suggests that improving the trace element status can positively influence the haemogram, though the quality of semen seems to be predominantly dependent on other animal-specific factors.

Research Objectives and Design

  • The research aimed to study the systemic role of trace minerals in maintaining stability of blood cells and semen quality.
  • A group of 40 stallions from a stud center, having age between 8 to 21 years and body weight between 510 and 531 kg, was divided into two groups: the control group and the supplement group.
  • The supplement group received a diet containing additional Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol.
  • The study followed a matched-pairs approach depending on age.

Starting Point and Experimental Data

  • Despite seeming healthy, the horses were found to be deficient in circulating α-Tocopherol and Zn at the start of the research.
  • The supplement group showed significantly different plasmatic levels of α-Tocopherol, Se and Zn after the dietary supplement was introduced.
  • Effects of supplementation were apparent in circulating basophils (BASO) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
  • The plasma level of Se was found to affect the monocyte count, hematocrit, mean cell volume, and mean cell haemoglobin concentration of the horses.

Findings and Conclusions

  • No apparent change was noticed in semen traits due to dietary supplement, except for a marginal increase in mobile/progressive sperm cells of stallions older than 13 years.
  • Improving the micromineral status was found to enhance the haemogram.
  • The semen quality did not significantly improve with dietary supplements, suggesting other animal-specific factors play a more crucial role in determining the quality of semen.

Cite This Article

APA
Cappai MG, Taras A, Cossu I, Cherchi R, Dimauro C, Accioni F, Boatto G, Deroma M, Spanu E, Gatta D, Dall'Aglio C, Pinna W. (2020). Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions. Biol Trace Elem Res, 199(9), 3287-3296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02447-7

Publication

Biological trace element research
ISSN: 1559-0720
NlmUniqueID: 7911509
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 199
Issue: 9
Pages: 3287-3296

Researcher Affiliations

Cappai, Maria Grazia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna No. 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy. mgcappai@uniss.it.
Taras, Andrea
  • Department of Equine Breeding and Reproduction Research, Autonomous Region of Sardinia, 4th of Lucrezia Borgia Square, 07040, Ozieri, Italy.
Cossu, Ignazio
  • Department of Equine Breeding and Reproduction Research, Autonomous Region of Sardinia, 4th of Lucrezia Borgia Square, 07040, Ozieri, Italy.
Cherchi, Raffaele
  • Department of Equine Breeding and Reproduction Research, Autonomous Region of Sardinia, 4th of Lucrezia Borgia Square, 07040, Ozieri, Italy.
Dimauro, Corrado
  • Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, viale Italia no 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Accioni, Francesca
  • Department of Pharmacy and Chemistry, University of Sassari, Via Muroni No. 23, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Boatto, Gianpiero
  • Department of Pharmacy and Chemistry, University of Sassari, Via Muroni No. 23, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Deroma, Mario
  • Laboratory of Mineralogy, Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia No. 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Spanu, Emanuela
  • Laboratory of Mineralogy, Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia No. 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Gatta, Domenico
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via delle Piagge No. 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
Dall'Aglio, Cecilia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo No. 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
Pinna, Walter
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna No. 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Semen
  • Semen Analysis
  • Zinc / pharmacology
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology

Grant Funding

  • LR 7/2007 / Regione Autonoma della Sardegna

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Prasinou P, De Amicis I, Fusaro I, Bucci R, Cavallini D, Parrillo S, Caputo M, Gramenzi A, Carluccio A. The Lipidomics of Spermatozoa and Red Blood Cells Membrane Profile of Martina Franca Donkey: Preliminary Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 20;13(1).
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  2. Raspa F, Dinardo FR, Vervuert I, Bergero D, Bottero MT, Pattono D, Dalmasso A, Vinassa M, Valvassori E, Bruno E, De Palo P, Valle E. A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022 Mar;106(2):313-326.
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