Physiological Responses and Reproductive Potential of Yankassa Rams Supplemented Milne-Rech Seed Essential Oil-Based Diet

This study evaluated the effects of Piliostigma thonningii seed essential oil (Milne-Rech seed essential oil, MSEO), commonly referred to as camel's foot essential oil, on thermoregulation, immune and oxidative stress responses, serum biochemical indices, and reproductive traits of growing sheep.Twenty-one healthy Yankassa ram lambs (6-7 months old; average body weight: 10.55 0.60 kg) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design.All animals received the same basal diet, supplemented with MSEO at 0 ml/kg (T1 -control), 5 ml/kg (T2), or 10 ml/kg (T3) for 16 weeks.Rectal temperatures ranged from 38.93 to 39.95, with T1 exhibiting significantly higher values (P < 0.05) than T2 and T3, which remained statistically similar (P > 0.05).Earlobe temperature, heart rate (83.43-83.54bpm), and respiratory rate (23.29-23.91cycles/min) were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by treatment.Serum total protein, globulin, and glucose levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3 compared to the control.Albumin levels increased significantly with higher MSEO inclusion (P < 0.05), peaking in T3.Serum cholesterol and liver enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3 than in T1.Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin:globulin ratio, and bilirubin showed no significant differences across treatments (P > 0.05).Supplementation with MSEO significantly elevated (P < 0.05) levels of immunoglobulins G, A, and M, triiodothyronine (T3), and superoxide dismutase, with highest values observed in T3.Antioxidant enzymes-catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase-and total antioxidant capacity were significantly enhanced in T2 and T3 (P < 0.05).Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) and cortisol levels were significantly reduced in these groups compared to the control (P < 0.05).All groups produced creamy semen, and pH values did not differ significantly (P > 0.05).However, ejaculate volume, progressive motility, sperm viability, and semen concentration increased significantly with MSEO inclusion (P < 0.05), following the order: T3 > T2 > T1.Live sperm counts and testosterone levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented groups.Libido, measured as reaction time to female exposure, was shortest (P < 0.05) in T3 and longest in T1.Semen abnormalities