Effect of add maca powder to the base diet on weaning lambs and rams semen characteristics

This study was conducted on lambs and rams. Hence, 15 weaning lambs at 60 days of age were randomly distributed to G1, G2 and G3 groups (n=5 in each) at live body weight (LBW) 9.8 kg. The G1, G2 and G3 were received maca powder at 0, 200, 400 mg / kg LBW plus daily basal requirements diet (DBRD), respectively.  The LBW, daily weight gain (DWG), scrotal development, testosterone level and blood parameters were assayed. Otherwise, 9 maturity rams at 19 months with 53.98 kg formed G1, G2 and G3 (n=3 in each) were used to evaluate semen characteristics.  The G1, G2 and G3 were given 0, 50, 100 mg of maca powder / kg LBW plus DBRD, respectively. The findings indicated that, G2 and G3 lambs had more positive changing in LBW, DWG, scrotal development, testosterone level and blood parameters than G1 lambs. Also, G2 and G3 rams had more significantly improved semen characteristics than G1 rams. Economic efficiency (EE) of lambs was greater in G2 (2.62) than G3 (2.50) and G1 (2.43). The EE of rams was 3.24, 4.42 and 4.32 in G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Thusly, lambs and rams had respectively the best results at 200 or 50 mg of maca add to DBRD diet.