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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372443
Research Project: Alleviating Rate Limiting Factors that Compromise Beef Production Efficiency

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Title: Effect of feeding 60% dried corn distillers grain plus solubles or the equivalent sulfur as CaSO4 on DNA structure and integrity in bull semen [Abstract]

Author
item KASSETAS, CIERRAH - North Dakota State University
item Geary, Thomas
item Zezeski, Abby
item CATON, JOEL - North Dakota State University
item KIRSCH, JAMES - North Dakota State University
item DORSAM, SHERI - North Dakota State University
item MCCARTHY, KACIE - North Dakota State University
item CROUSE, MATTHEW - North Dakota State University
item SEDIVEC, KEVIN - North Dakota State University
item NEVILLE, BRYAN - North Dakota State University
item DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2020
Publication Date: 11/30/2020
Citation: Kassetas, C.J., Geary, T.W., Zezeski, A.L., Caton, J.S., Kirsch, J.D., Dorsam, S.T., Mccarthy, K.L., Crouse, M.S., Sedivec, K.K., Neville, B.W., Dahlen, C.R. 2020. Effect of feeding 60% dried corn distillers grain plus solubles or the equivalent sulfur as CaSO4 on DNA structure and integrity in bull semen [Abstract]. Meeting Abstract. 98(S4):268-269. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.483.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.483

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of feeding 60% dried corn distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) or the equivalent sulfur as CaSO4 on DNA structure and integrity in frozen/extended bull semen. Thirty-six half-sibling Angus bulls [256 ' 8 d; initial BW = 320 ' 2 kg] were assigned to one of three treatments: 1) corn-based diet containing 60% concentrate (CON; S = 0.18%; n = 12); 2) diet containing 60% DDGS as a replacement for corn (60DDGS; S = 0.55% DM; n = 12); 3) CON diet + equivalent sulfur of 60DDGS added as CaSO4 (SULF; S = 0.54%; n = 12). Bulls were individually fed in Calan gates for 112 days and targeted to gain 1.6 kg/d. Semen was collected via electroejaculation at d 112. Semen samples were extended and frozen. The Guava easyCyte 8HT Flow Cytometer was used to analyze acrosome/cell membrane integrity, mitochondrial energy potential, oxidation status, DNA integrity, and the zinc signature assay. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS for effects of treatment. For depolarized mitochondria, 60DDGS tended (P = 0.07) to be greater compared with SULF and CON. This suggests that bulls in the 60DDGS treatment may have sperm with lower mitochondrial energy potential compared with SULF and CON bulls. Additionally, for the zinc signature assay, no differences (P = 0.11) were observed for signatures 2 through 4. However, for signature 1, 60DDGS and SULF had decreased (P = 0.03) signature 1 compared with CON suggesting that sperm from bulls in the SULF and 60DDGS treatments may be in advanced stages of sperm capacitation in comparison to CON, potentially limiting the sperm lifespan and ability to bind the sperm oviductal reservoir.