Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Boar Semen Quality

Abstract

The effect of addition of L-carnitine on boar semen quality was studied in 5 Pietrain boars at age 1.5 - 2.0 years. The boars received 500 mg of L-carnitine per day for 5 weeks. During this period, their ejaculates were collected once a week and evaluated for quality. The control ejaculates had been collected before the application of L-carnitine. It was found that the addition of L-carnitine to the boars' feed had a positive effect on the quality of boar semen. The total ejaculate volume and sperm-rich fraction volume increased by 11% and 10%, respectively; the total ejaculate sperm count increased by 11.5% (P < 0.05). Also, the number of spermatozoa with major and minor morphological changes decreased and seminal plasma activity of AspAT was significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Sperm concentration and motility, as well as normal acrosome sperm percentage, did not increase considerably. The positive effect of L-carnitine on boar semen quality was observable as early as after one week of its application.