THE EFFECT OF DIETARY-CADMIUM INTAKE ON EJACULATE QUALITY IN BREEDING BOARS

In three trials on breeding boars the effect of cadmium on ejaculate quality and its deposition on some tissues was investigated. Cadmium at a larger supply in feed rations gets into liver, kidneys and testicles. Its increase in the generative organs at doses of 6.3 to 150 mg Cd did not result in any increase in Cd content in ejaculate. Evaluation of sperm production before the trial with respect to the present results indicates rather stimulating effects for the dose of 30 mg Cd. Ejaculate evaluation (percentage of pathological spermatozoa, percentage of intact acrosomes and observation of sperm survival) does not show any large differences. Histological examination revealed pathological lesions in the testicles at a larger Cd supply.