Effect of Canola Oil Supplementation in Tris Extender on Short-Term Quality of Fresh Goat Semen at Room Temperature

Abstract

The preservation of semen quality during storage is essential for the success of artificial insemination programs in small ruminants. Conventional semen extenders commonly utilize egg yolk as a protective component; however, variability in composition and the risk of microbial contamination have encouraged the search for plant-based alternatives. This study evaluated the effectiveness of canola oil supplementation in a Tris-based extender for maintaining the short-term quality of fresh Boer buck semen stored at room temperature. Semen was collected from four to six healthy adult Boer bucks using an artificial vagina and pooled to minimize individual variation. The pooled semen was diluted (1:9) with Tris–citric–fructose extenders containing either egg yolk (control) or different concentrations of canola oil: 2 ml (C1), 4 ml (C2), and 6 ml (C3). Diluted samples were stored at ≤20 °C and evaluated at 0, 1, and 2 hours for progressive sperm motility, viability, and morphology. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. Storage time significantly reduced sperm quality parameters, whereas extender composition influenced the rate of decline. Significant differences among extenders were observed at 1 and 2 hours for motility (P = 0.049 and P = 0.008, respectively) and viability (P = 0.003). The C3 extender consistently maintained higher progressive motility (46.33 ± 4.72%) and viability (71.17 ± 0.23%) after 2 hours of storage compared with other treatments. Extenders containing canola oil also demonstrated relatively stable sperm morphology throughout storage. These findings indicate that canola oil, particularly at higher concentrations, can effectively support sperm.