Impact of Nutritional Management Strategies on Semen Quality of Developing Bulls
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 8-2019 Impact of nutritional management strategies on semen quality of developing bulls Jarret Proctor University of Tennessee, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Recommended Citation Proctor, Jarret, "Impact of nutritional management strategies on semen quality of developing bulls. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2019. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/5538 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Jarret Proctor entitled "Impact of nutritional management strategies on semen quality of developing bulls." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Animal Science. Jason Smith, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Justin Rhinehart, Lew Strickland Accepted for the Council: Dixie L. Thompson Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) Impact of nutritional management strategies on semen quality of developing bulls A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Jarret Allen Proctor August 2019 i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I want to thank my parents for their continued support and encouragement to chase my dreams, wherever that may take me. Secondly, my siblings, along with Shelbi Perry were tremendous supporters throughout this process and I will be eternally grateful for each of them. The friendships I have made throughout my time in Tennessee are those that will last well beyond my years at this institution, and I am thankful for the connections I have developed. Without my research assistants, consisting of Connor Biehler, Kyla-Jo Farmer, Nate Long, Abigayle Pollock, John Robert Snoddy, Kelly Melvin, and Monica Creazzo, these projects would not have been possible. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the Department of Animal Science at the University of Tennessee for funding this opportunity to expand my educational and technical skillset. Additionally, my committee members, Dr. Justin Rhinehart and Dr. Lew Strickland were immensely valuable to my program and I will continue to value their knowledge and insight within their respective fields of study. Most importantly, I want to thank Dr. Jason Smith, my mentor, for allowing me to serve as his first graduate student. I am grateful that his guidance and passion for animal agriculture has pushed my education and development further than I ever thought possible, the knowledge and experience I have accrued under his direction will last a lifetime. Finally, I want to express my gratitude towards the Tennessee Beef Industry Council and Jonathan Perry of Deer Valley Farms for their support of these research projects. ii ABSTRACT Nutritional management and semen collection method are thought to influence semen quality parameters evaluated during a breeding soundness examination. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of two feeding strategies on growth performance and semen quality of developing bulls. A secondary objective was to quantify the effects of two semen collection methods on semen quality. Angus bulls (n = 48; 332 ± 47 d of age) were stratified into one of sixteen drylot pens before random assignment to one of two iso-caloric diets: a total mixed ration (TMR; n = 8 pens) or a component-based ration (COMP; n = 8 pens). Bulls were assigned to either electroejaculation (EE; n = 24) or trans-rectal massage (RM; n = 24) and each collection method occurred twice throughout an 84-d feeding period. Rumen pH was continuously monitored via rumen boluses and dry matter intake (DMI) was measured daily. Backfat thickness and hoof conformation were measured on d 0 and 84, with body weight measured and semen collected at 21-d intervals. Semen was assessed for progressive motility, total sperm per ejaculate, and sperm cell morphology. Bulls fed the COMP ration had a greater DMI (P < 0.01) and ADG (P < 0.01), but similar feed efficiency (P = 0.19) when compared to TMR-fed bulls. Bulls fed COMP had a lower mean rumen pH (P < 0.01). Additionally, COMP-fed bulls had greater backfat thickness (P < 0.01) but similar hoof conformation scores (P ≥ 0.55) when compared to TMR-fed bulls on d 84. Bulls fed the COMP had greater semen volume (P < 0.05) but feeding management did not affect progressive motility (P = 0.42), total sperm per ejaculate (P = 0.86), or percent morphologically-normal sperm (P = 0.59). However, bulls collected via RM had greater total sperm per ejaculate (P < 0.05), and semen volume (P < 0.01), but lower percent morphologically-normal sperm (P < 0.05) and progressive motility (P < 0.01). Neither diet nor semen collection method affected BSE passage rate (P ≥ 0.34), suggesting minimal influence on BSE outcomes in developing bulls. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: Literature review ....................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2 Etiology of SARA ........................................................................................................... 3 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 3 Energy and starch digestion ......................................................................................... 3 Organic acid by-products of ruminal fermentation ..................................................... 6 Rumen pH as an indicator of acidosis ....................................................................... 10 Rumen temperature as an indicator of acidosis ......................................................... 13 Rumen osmolality and damage to ruminal papillae .................................................. 14 Identification and implications of SARA ..................................................................... 15 Parakeratosis, rumenitis, and liver abscesses ............................................................ 16 Laminitis/lameness .................................................................................................... 18 Fecal composition ...................................................................................................... 21 Variation in DMI ....................................................................................................... 22 Treatment and prevention of SARA ............................................................................. 25 Ration composition and physically-effective fiber .................................................. 26 Transition diets, ration blending, and bunk and feeding management .................... 28 Ionophores................................................................................................................ 30 iv Buffers...................................................................................................................... 32 Nutritional influences on bull reproduction .................................................................. 33 Pre-weaning nutritional management ...................................................................... 34 Post-weaning development ...................................................................................... 39 SARA in developing bulls ....................................................................................... 43 References ..................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 2: Impact of feeding management strategies on growth performance, rumen conditions, and semen quality of developing bulls .................................................. 66 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 67 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 68 Materials and methods .................................................................................................. 69 Experimental design and feeding management ....................................................... 70 Feed intake, sampling, re-formulation, and analysis ............................................... 72 Growth performance and hoof conformation .......................................................... 73 Rumen pH and temperature ..................................................................................... 74 Scrotal circumference, semen collection, and semen quality .................................. 74 Statistical analyses ................................................................................................... 77 Results and discussion .................................................................................................