The Effects of Adding Coconut Water to Egg Yolk Diluent on Motility, Viability, and Abnormality of Etawa Crossbred Goat Sperm

Abstract

The Etawah crossbreed goat is a dual-purpose type of goat that can adapt well to tropical regions in Indonesia. The current research aimed to evaluate the effects of adding coconut water to citrate egg yolk diluent on the spermatozoa quality parameters (motility, viability, and abnormality) of the Etawah crossbred goat at the physiology and reproduction laboratory of animal husbandry, Jambi University (Indonesia). The research employed a randomized block design on Etawa crossbreed goats aged around 2-3 years with an average weight of 12 kg per head in six groups. The treatments included 100% citrate diluent of egg yolk without adding coconut water (P0) as a control, 90% citrate diluent of egg yolk + 10% coconut water (P1), 80% citrate diluent of egg yolk + 20% coconut water (P2), 70% citrate diluent of egg yolk + 30% coconut water (P3), 60% citrate diluent of egg yolk + 40% coconut water (P4). The parameters evaluated in this study included viability of spermatozoa, spermatozoa motility, and spermatozoa abnormalities. The five treatment tubes were stored in a refrigerated cabinet at 5°C for 2 days. After this period, semen quality assessment was assessed microscopically. The percentage of live spermatozoa was determined using a staining technique. The spermatozoa motility was assessed based on their ability to move. Abnormal spermatozoa were calculated based on the number of abnormal spermatozoa compared to the total number of spermatozoa. The results of the study showed that the addition of 20% coconut water to the 80% citrate diluent of egg yolk (P2 treatment) reduced the rate of decline in spermatozoa viability and did not increase the number of spermatozoa abnormalities significantly, compared to other groups. There was no decrease in the viability of Etawah crossbreed goat spermatozoa during 2 days of storage at 5°C in all groups. Therefore, it was concluded that coconut water could be added up to 20% into the egg yolk without any significant negative effects on spermatozoa quality parameters evaluated in the current study.