| Tasco(c) is a seaweed extract, scientifically known as Ascopyllum nodosum (ANOD), that has been previously studied to determine its effects on ability to increase reproductive traits in cattle and goats. For both artificial insemination and frozen semen techniques to advance, it is important that stallions produce sperm cells with high concentration and motility. The current study objective was to determine if oral supplementation of Tasco(c) would positively enhance equine semen quality by increasing sperm motility. Four, mature-aged, Quarter Horse stallions were blocked by age, body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) and randomly assigned into either a control group (CONT; n=2) or treatment group (TASCO; n=2); CONT horses received a basal diet of alfalfa, Bermuda grass hay and commercial grain product while the TASCO group received the basal diet plus 1.5% of total dry matter intake (DMI) in Tasco(c) daily (0.262 g/kg/BW) for 90 days. Semen was collected from each stallion every 26 days. Semen samples were evaluated for motility, concentration, volume and progressive motility using a Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) machine. Body weight and body condition scores were taken every 7 and 14 days respectively. Semen characteristics did not differ between CONT and TASCO horses. Body weight and body condition was similar among all stallions prior to the study and through-out the trial period. Ninety days of oral supplementation of Tasco (c) had no effect on sperm motility or concentration. This is one of the first studies conducted to investigate Tasco(c) supplementation in the horse. The calculated dose of Tasco(c) was determined from previous studies involving ruminants. Future inquiries should include digestibility of Tasco(c) and evaluation of dosage amounts in the non-ruminant animal. Additionally a longer feeding period (< 90 days) may result in notable changes in semen characteristics. |
