Dietary Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Antioxidants Improve Libido without Compromising Semen Quality in Garut Rams

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants on the reproductive performance and quality of liquid semen in Garut rams. The study used a sample of 20 Garut rams aged 14 months with a body weight of 33.1 ± 4.9 kg. The experimental design for analysing the performance variables was a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments and five replicates. The experimental design for liquid semen quality variables was a 3 × 2 factorial randomized block design (FRBD) comprising three ration types and two diluents. The ration treatments were as follows: P1 = control, P2 = P1 + canola oil + antioxidants, P3 = P1 + sunflower seed oil + antioxidants, and P4 = P1 + lemuru oil + antioxidants. The variables assessed were feed consumption, scrotal circumference, libido, and semen quality. Subsequently, the data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan’s test with IBM SPSS version 25. The results showed that the dietary treatments had no significant effect on reproductive performance parameters but significantly increased crude fat and fatty acid intake (P < 0.01). These results indicate that including unsaturated fatty acid sources and antioxidants did not have a detrimental effect on feed consumption and reproductive performance but tended to influence libido. In addition, there was no discernible interaction between the feed and diluent in influencing the motility, viability, and sperm plasma membrane integrity of liquid semen in Garut rams.