Effect of Coated Methionine and Lysine and Their Combination on Fertility of Awassi Male Sheep

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Amino acid Methionine and Lysine on the reproductive performance of male Awassi sheep. Twenty Awassi males aged range 10-12 months and average weight 32± 0.5kg were used in this study, during the period from May to August 2022. The animals were randomly divided into four equal groups. The first group was the control group (T1). In this group, sheep were fed on standard diet without any additive. The second treated group (T2) were fed on standard diet supplemented with coated Methionine (1.5g/sheep/day). The third treated group (T3) were fed on standard diet supplemented with coated Lysine (2.5g/sheep/day). The fourth treated group (T4) were fed on standard diet supplemented with coated Methionine and Lysine at the same doses used in T2 and T3 .The results showed that there was a significant improvement (P≤0.05) in sperm characteristics of T4 as compared to other groups. T4 also showed the highest testosterone levels as compared with the other groups.T4group also showed a well development in the seminiferous tubules, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells as compared withT1.T4 showed the best histological testicular architecture especially Sertoli cells as compared with T1,T2andT3. It was concluded from this study that coated Methionine and Lysine might improve semen characteristics, testosterone levels and male reproductive performance in Awassi male.