Background: The use of reproductive biotechnologies in equine practice has shown that some stallions are subfertile, so ways to improve fertility have been sought.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nutraceutical supplementation on improving semen quality in Quarter Horse stallions.
Methods: Semen from six Quarter Horse stallions was assessed for 4 months every 20 days using the computer-assisted semen analysis system. They were evaluated for 60 days before supplementation; then, the same stallions were re-evaluated for 60 days with nutraceutical supplementation (30 g/day).
Results: Volume showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with nutraceuticals. Sperm concentration (10x6 ) was significantly higher with supplementation (339.4 ± 17.5 sperm/mL) than without supplementation (224.6 ± 19.9). Sperm abnormalities (%) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower with supplementation (14.3 ± 0.6) than without supplementation (19.1 ± 0.4). Sperm kinematic parameters, total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), rectilinear velocity (VSL), the velocity of the trajectory (VAP) and curvilinear velocity (VCL), were significantly better with supplementation (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Based on the results, it is concluded that nutraceutical supplementation improved semen parameters in Quarter Horse stallions.
Keywords: horses; nutraceutical; nutrition; semen quality; supplementation.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.