| Spirulina is generally used as a nutraceutical feed supplement due to its nutrient profile, lack of toxicity, and therapeutic effects. This study aimed to explore the effect of dietary inclusion of Spirulina platensis (SPL) algae on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, and semen quality of cross-bred lambs (½ Finnish × ½ Ossime). Twenty-four lambs aged 10 months with 32.93±0.48 kg LBW were distributed into three groups (8/group). Lambs in G1 (controls) were fed a basal diet without treatment. In G2 and G3, the daily diet was supplied with 1 and 5 g SPL /kg from 10 to 15 months of age. Dietary SPL supplementation significantly increased body weight, count of red and white blood cells, packed cell volume, and serum total protein, high-density lipoproteins, testosterone, and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), and significantly decreased activity of aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT), triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very-LDL, and urea. Semen variables including semen volume, and percentages of sperm motility, livability, and abnormality as well as concentration and output of sperm cells were significantly by SPL. In serum and seminal plasma, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase significantly increased, while malondialdehyde significantly decreased in SPL groups. Based on our results, spirulina as a dietary feed additive (5 g/kg diet) could be used safely for improving growth, health, antioxidant defense system, and semen quality of growing cross-bred ram lambs from 10 to 15 months of age.

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary inclusion ofChlorella vulgaris(CV) or/and vitamin C (VC) on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, oxidative and antioxidant status, reproductive hormones, and semen quality variables, and scrotal-testicular dimensions of Zaraibi goat bucks. Twenty sexually mature bucks (41.49 ± 0.91 kg BW) were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 bucks/group). The control group was fed the control diet, while the other three groups received a diet supplemented with VC (2 g/animal /day), CV (5 g/animal/day), and CV plus VC (the same levels), respectively, for 8 weeks (treatment period), and then semen was collected for 8 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with CV-VC combination significantly increased the final body weight, weight gain, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and lymphocytes; elevated serum total protein, globulin, testosterone, estradiol, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase with a significant reduction in Malondialdehyde in serum and seminal plasma. Also, the CV-VC combination significantly improved the ejaculate volume, total sperm output, sperm concentration, and live sperm, and reduced reaction time and sperm abnormality of bucks. Either CV or VC given separately or in combination, at the chosen levels, had no detrimental effects on animal physiological responses with normal hepatic and renal functions. Therefore, the CV-VC combination could be safely utilized as a dietary supplement in buck’s diets to improve antioxidant defenses, scavenge free radicals, and potentiate buck’s reproductive activities under normal conditions.

Portulaca oleracea contains a wide range of chemical constituents, including flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, fatty acids, terpenoids, sterols, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These chemical constituents are linked to the plant’s diverse pharmacological properties, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the effect of adding two concentrations (50 or 100 μg/mL) of Portulaca oleracea leaf ethanolic extracts in a native form (POLE) or nanoformulation (POLENF) on the antioxidant status of sperm medium to improve goat sperm freezability. Semen was evaluated postequilibration (5°C for 2 h), postthawing, and 2 h postincubation (37°C and 5% CO₂). Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of 30 compounds in POLE, including phenolic acids and flavonoids and their glucosides. Total flavonoids were higher in POLE than in POLENF. Both extracts showed strong free radical scavenging capacity by the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl‐hydrate assay, which was higher for POLENF than POLE, whereas the antioxidant activity by the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay had no differences. In comparison to free extender, the addition of POLE (100 μg) or POLENF (50 and 100 μg) significantly improved sperm motility and viability postequilibration and postincubation and antioxidant status of sperm medium postthawing. All POLE and POLENF concentrations significantly improved motility, viability, membrane integrity, and apoptosis of spermatozoa postthawing. Enzyme activities of AST, ALT, and LDH in sperm medium postthawing were not affected by treatments. In comparing different types and concentrations of POLE with free extender, the addition of POLENF (100 μg/mL) to goat semen extender gave the most valuable results as an effective free radical scavenger and antiapoptotic during cryopreservation.