Effect of Ferulic Acid on Semen Quality of Goat Bucks during Liquid Storage at 17 °C

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study aims to explore whether ferulic acid (FA), as an exogenous antioxidant, could improve the quality of goat semen during liquid storage at 17 °C. Semen was collected from three black-headed goat bucks and stored at 17 °C with different concentrations of FA. The effect of FA on semen quality was evaluated via semen quality detection and antioxidant index analysis. The results showed that adding 50 μmol/L of FA significantly improved the semen quality from 1 to 5 days. Furthermore, supplementing semen with 50 μmol/L of FA preserved at 17 °C for 3 days had no significant effect on fertility. Overall, adding 50 μmol/L of FA in dilution improved the quality of goat semen stored at 17 °C. ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of different concentrations of ferulic acid (FA) on the quality of goat semen preserved at 17 °C. First, semen was collected from three black-headed goat bucks using an artificial vagina. Then, the mixed semen was diluted with basal dilutions containing different concentrations of FA (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L) and stored at 17 °C. Sperm total motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured during semen storage. The results showed that sperm total motility, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity were significantly improved in the 50 μmol/L FA group compared with the control group (0 μmol/L) on days 1–5, and the level of T-AOC significantly increased, while the contents of ROS and MDA significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the goats’ conception rate showed that supplementing semen with 50 μmol/L FA preserved at 17 °C for 3 days had no significant effect on fertility. Taken together, our findings suggest that adding 50 μmol/L FA in dilution at 17 °C can improve goat bucks’ semen quality.