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Effect of different rumen protected fat from palm oil on testosterone level and testicular traits in Malin rams

Mohd Hafizal Ahmad¹, Loh Teck Chen¹, Mashitah Shikh Maidin², and Anjas Asmara Samsudin^1,*

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia
² Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2018 21(2): 27-38

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Rumen protected fat (RPF) have been used to increase the energy density of the animal feed and most RPF product used in animal feed come from palm oil. RPF are widely used in dairy cows because it can compensate for the energy deficiency during lactation. However there is lack of knowledge on the effect of RPF on testosterone level and testicular traits in Malin rams. Most common RPF type used in animal feed is prilled fat and calcium soap of fatty acid (Casa). Both prilled fat and Casa have been chemically treated to be protected from hydrolysis and biohydrogenation in the rumen. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of RPF on testosterone level and testicular traits in Malin rams. Twenty adult Malin rams were randomly and equally assigned to four treatments: T1: Control, T2: 2% prilled fat, T3: 2% calcium soap fatty acid and T4: 2% canola oil. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in plasma testosterone level of rams among the different treatment groups. Mean scrotal circumference and total weight of testis were also not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments. Seminiferous tubule score, Leydig cell score and seminiferous tubule diameter were also not significantly (P>0.05) affected by fat supplement studied. In conclusion, supplementation of rumen protected fat from palm oil to Malin rams does not improve their testosterone level and measurements of testicular traits.