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Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology
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Research Article

Effect of Egg Yolk-Derived Low-Density Lipoprotein and  Melatonin Supplementation on Post-Thaw Semen Quality of  Salem Black Bucks

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Raju Sreeranjani — Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637002, TANUVAS, Tamil Nadu, India.
Mani Selvaraju — Dean, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637002, TANUVAS, Tamil Nadu, India
Thangavelu Sathyabama — Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Udumalpet-642154, TANUVAS, Tamil Nadu, India
Santhanam Jayachandran — Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637002, TANUVAS, Tamil Nadu, India
Published 10 Mar 2026 Vol. 22 No. 2 (2026), pp. 143-147 ● Open access
❝ How to cite 🔗 https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.2.26
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate egg yolk-derived low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as a semen extender and melatonin as an antioxidant  in goat semen cryopreservation by assessing post-thaw semen quality parameters. Semen ejaculates (n=24) were collected twice weekly  from Salem Black bucks (n=2) using an artificial vagina. After preliminary evaluation, screened pooled samples were extended using six  different extenders: Tris–egg yolk–glycerol extender (control), Tris–6% LDL–glycerol extender (Group 2), Tris–8% LDL–glycerol extender  (Group 3), control with 0.5 mM melatonin (Group 4), control with 1 mM melatonin (Group 5), and Tris–8% LDL–glycerol extender with 0.5  mM melatonin (Group 6). Semen samples were diluted according to the appropriate dilution rate, filled into straws, and cryopreserved  at -196 °C following standard protocols. Physiological characteristics of fresh, freshly diluted (22 °C), pre-freeze (5 °C), and post-thaw  semen were evaluated on days 0, 7, and 30 of cryostorage. Post-thaw evaluation on day 30 of cryostorage revealed significantly higher  (p < 0.01) progressive motility, sperm livability, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity, with values of 54.50%, 57.33%,  54.50%, and 51.33%, respectively, in the treatment group 6 followed by group 4 than others. The results indicate that the extender  replacing egg yolk with 8% LDL and supplemented with melatonin 0.5 mM is effective for semen preservation in Salem Black bucks.  Melatonin improved post-thaw semen quality by reducing oxidative damage during cryopreservation. 

 

KeywordsBuck semen, Cryopreservation, LDL, Melatonin, Semen quality.

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