Dairy Cattle Feed Upcycling, Adaptogenic Nutraceuticals and Precision Reproduction: Advanced CASA Sperm Kinematic Profiling and Sexual Drive in Rams.
6 affiliations
- 1Graduate Program-Natural Resources and Environment in Arid Lands, Regional Universitary Unit on Arid Lands, Chapingo Autonomous University, Bermejillo 35230, Durango, Mexico.
- 2Graduate Program-Agricultural and Livestock Sciences, Laguna Unit, Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico.
- 3Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21705, Baja California, Mexico.
- 4Division of Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Open and Distance University of Mexico, Ciudad de México 03330, Mexico.
- 5Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Gomez Palacio 35010, Durango, Mexico.
- 6Department of Sustainable and Protected Agriculture, Technological University of Rodeo, Rodeo 35760, Durango, Mexico.
Abstract
This study capitalizes on computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) to evaluate a precision nutritional strategy integrating agro-industrial feed upcycling and functional phytogenic supplementation in rams. Black Belly rams (n = 15) sustained on an upcycled basal diet derived from dairy-cow feed rejections were assigned to a non-supplemented control group (CONT) or supplemented with Withania somnifera (WITH) or Lepidium meyenii (LEPI) at 400 mg kg⁻¹ LW d⁻¹. The 64-day trial was conducted from May to July in arid northern Mexico. Sexual drive, seminal quality, and high-resolution sperm kinematics were evaluated using CASA. Body and testicular measurements, ejaculate volume, and most categorical motility traits remained comparable among treatments (p > 0.05). However, phytogenic supplementation enhanced selected seminal and sexual-drive variables (p < 0.05). Crucially, longitudinal treatment × time interactions (p < 0.05) showed that while the CONT group experienced a seasonal decline in local mobility (LOCMOB), it increased from 1.47% to 2.01% in the WITH group, representing a 37% relative increase over time. Moreover, both WITH and LEPI increased LIN and STR by the end of the experimental period (p < 0.05), demonstrating more linear and efficient sperm trajectories. These findings highlight the productive value of upcycled dairy-cow feed rejections and demonstrate that strategic supplementation with W. somnifera or L. meyenii can refine sexual drive, seminal quality, and sperm kinematic efficiency. This integrated bio-circular strategy provides actionable insights for sustainable small-ruminant production under challenging arid summer conditions.
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BibTeX
@article{mezaherrera2026dairy,
title = {{Dairy Cattle Feed Upcycling, Adaptogenic Nutraceuticals and Precision Reproduction: Advanced CASA Sperm Kinematic Profiling and Sexual Drive in Rams.}},
author = {César A Meza-Herrera and Ángeles De Santiago-Miramontes and Andrés J Rodríguez-Sánchez and Karla Q Ramírez-Uranga and Raquel Santos-Silva and Ulises Macías-Cruz and Cayetano Navarrete-Molina and Denia L Vargas-García and Mayela Rodríguez-González and Edén A Luna-Zapién and María A Sariñana-Navarrete},
journal = {Veterinary sciences},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/vetsci13101009},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944105},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dairy Cattle Feed Upcycling, Adaptogenic Nutraceuticals and Precision Reproduction: Advanced CASA Sperm Kinematic Profiling and Sexual Drive in Rams.
AU - César A Meza-Herrera
AU - Ángeles De Santiago-Miramontes
AU - Andrés J Rodríguez-Sánchez
AU - Karla Q Ramírez-Uranga
AU - Raquel Santos-Silva
AU - Ulises Macías-Cruz
AU - Cayetano Navarrete-Molina
AU - Denia L Vargas-García
AU - Mayela Rodríguez-González
AU - Edén A Luna-Zapién
AU - María A Sariñana-Navarrete
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Veterinary sciences
DO - 10.3390/vetsci13101009
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944105
AB - This study capitalizes on computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) to evaluate a precision nutritional strategy integrating agro-industrial feed upcycling and functional phytogenic supplementation in rams. Black Belly rams (n = 15) sustained on an upcycled basal diet derived from dairy-cow feed rejections were assigned to a non-supplemented control group (CONT) or supplemented with Withania somnifera (WITH) or Lepidium meyenii (LEPI) at 400 mg kg⁻¹ LW d⁻¹. The 64-day trial was conducted from May to July in arid northern Mexico. Sexual drive, seminal quality, and high-resolution sperm kinematics were evaluated using CASA. Body and testicular measurements, ejaculate volume, and most categorical motility traits remained comparable among treatments (p > 0.05). However, phytogenic supplementation enhanced selected seminal and sexual-drive variables (p < 0.05). Crucially, longitudinal treatment × time interactions (p < 0.05) showed that while the CONT group experienced a seasonal decline in local mobility (LOCMOB), it increased from 1.47% to 2.01% in the WITH group, representing a 37% relative increase over time. Moreover, both WITH and LEPI increased LIN and STR by the end of the experimental period (p < 0.05), demonstrating more linear and efficient sperm trajectories. These findings highlight the productive value of upcycled dairy-cow feed rejections and demonstrate that strategic supplementation with W. somnifera or L. meyenii can refine sexual drive, seminal quality, and sperm kinematic efficiency. This integrated bio-circular strategy provides actionable insights for sustainable small-ruminant production under challenging arid summer conditions.
SN - 2306-7381
ER -