maryam bazgiri; Jamal Fayazi; mohammad salehi; vahid jajarmi
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 99-110
Abstract
Introduction: Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is a negative regulator for muscle differentiation and growth in various mammals and plays a key role in muscle growth and meat quality. Today, CRISPR technology can be used to accurately change any attribute. ...
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Introduction: Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is a negative regulator for muscle differentiation and growth in various mammals and plays a key role in muscle growth and meat quality. Today, CRISPR technology can be used to accurately change any attribute. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology creates double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the target region of DNA, which can be repaired by homology repair (HDR) in the presence of the corresponding homologous repair template or by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).Materials and Methods: Guide RNAs (sgRNA) were designed using CRISPOR online software. Eggs collected from 150 Varami sheep were placed in 50-microliter drops of culture medium in an incubator containing 7% CO2 and 95% humidity. 22-24 hours after IVM, a mixture of two guide RNAs cloned in a CRISPR vector was injected into each oocyte at a concentration of 30 ng with a microinjection microscope. After microinjection, the parthenogenesis method was used to fertilize the eggs. After the activation of the eggs in the wells of the 96-well plate, the bottom of which was covered with cumulus cells and sage medium for eight days in an incubator with a temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius and 7% CO2gas, they were cultivated under conditions of maximum humidity. After eight days, the zygotes that had reached the embryonic stage were analyzed with a fluorescent microscope. The embryos of the test group that emitted green light, as well as one embryo from the control group, were individually placed in nine microliters of DNA Lysis to prepare their genomes. They were incubated in a temperature program of one hour at 65 degrees and ten minutes at 90 degrees. In order to investigate the gene editing of the embryos that emitted green light, the PCR products of five greened embryos along with one embryo of the control group were sequenced by the trench method.Results and Discussion: Finally, 12 sheep embryos were produced, which were analyzed with a fluorescent microscope, and a total of five embryos emitted green light. The green light indicated that they had received the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Among the five embryos, two of the embryos with guide RNA 1 showed a single nucleotide deletion upstream of PAM. Additionally, two of the embryos showed a single nucleotide deletion in guide RNA 2, while one of the embryos remained unchanged. Sequence analysis of the knockout embryos revealed that 83% of the cells were cut. After creating two types of single nucleotide deletions in different positions of sheep embryos, the effect of this genomic editing was detected by examining the amino acid sequence of the embryos in the control group and those carrying the mutation. It was observed that the deletion of a single nucleotide caused by guide RNA resulted in a change in the genome framework and termination code, leading to a shorter amino acid sequence in the edited sheep compared to the control group. This research marked the first time that laboratory embryos of Varamin sheep genetically manipulated by CRISPR/Cas9 technology were produced.Conclusion: The nucleotide sequence of MSTN gene in Varami sheep was different from the sequence recorded in NCBI. Five embryos showed CRISPR technology markers. Both of the designed guide RNAs caused mutations in the nucleotide sequence and termination code in the amino acid sequence.
عبدالرضا Salehi; gholamreza Peykani; ali assadi-alamouti; Mohammad Jajik khari
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 111-121
Abstract
Introduction Determining the production function is one of the most effective ways to monitor the continuity of milk production, as it indicates the relationship between the intake of feedstuff and milk production. To explain the production function in breeding programs and estimate regression coefficients, ...
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Introduction Determining the production function is one of the most effective ways to monitor the continuity of milk production, as it indicates the relationship between the intake of feedstuff and milk production. To explain the production function in breeding programs and estimate regression coefficients, third-degree nonlinear regression is used. The milk production curve follows a third-degree rule, and therefore, it can be divided into three basic parts. Second-degree production functions cannot accurately represent a milk production curve from the beginning of lactation to the time of dryness, because they only depict the second-degree performance of milk production from the beginning of lactation to the peak of lactation. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of the production function in breeding programs and their potential use in selecting superior animals.Materials and Methods In order to recognize the opportunities for profitability in a herd, we first need to create the right production function. To achieve these goals, data on milk production and feed intake from one of the industrial farms in Tehran province were used. Various methods were examined in this study: 1- using OLS approach in R environment to estimate the milk production function, 2- using the Peykani extended ordinary least square (POLS) method, 3- estimating the breeding value of milk production using POLS function and physical milk production (field data) using Wombat software, 4- comparing OLS production functions obtained in R with the POLS production function, 5- Conducting genetic evaluation of animals and ranking dairy cows. When the production functions were obtained according to the POLS program, the optimal amounts of feed consumption and milk production were calculated. The breeding value of milk production was estimated using a repeatability model with permanent environmental effects that consider covariance between records of an animal and this was done using the Wombat program. Finally, cows were ranked based on their genetic rank.Results and Discussion The estimated functions based on the ordinary least squares method were incorrect in terms of signs and coefficients, and did not fit the milk production curve well. Based on the findings of this study, the non-linear regression model POLS is the best in the curve fitting and economical production of milk. The results show that with milk yield corrected using the optimal feed intake by the POLS model the ranking of the animals has changed and the breeding value of the animals is more accurately estimated. By using the breeding values estimated in this method, one can select the best animals as the parents of future generations.Conclusion The ability to estimate the production function based on the POLS method, which is used to create a standard curve of dairy cows is very high. Our results contribute significantly to the field of animal breeding by shedding light on the role of production functions in enhancing breeding programs and facilitating the identification of high-performing animals. The insights gained from our study could drive improvements in animal selection processes and ultimately enhance milk production efficiency.
Parvin Sareminejad; Ali Kiani; Ayoub Azizi
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 123-135
Abstract
Introduction The natural behavior of horses is to spend the most of their time foraging. The feeding time of stabled horses is often far from enough to fulfill their natural eating behavior. Hay-net technique is a method aiming to promote natural foraging behavior, slowing ingestion and increasing the ...
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Introduction The natural behavior of horses is to spend the most of their time foraging. The feeding time of stabled horses is often far from enough to fulfill their natural eating behavior. Hay-net technique is a method aiming to promote natural foraging behavior, slowing ingestion and increasing the length of feeding time. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of using a slow-feed (hay-net) on feeding time, forage intake rate, apparent digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, bacterial population, and the activity of cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes in the colon of horses.Materials and Methods Eight Arabian horses (body weight= 396± 45 kg, age= 9±3 years) were used in a cross-over design. The length of the experimental period was eight weeks, which included two periods of four weeks in rotation. In each period, feed was provided for four horses freely and for other four horses using a hay net. Fecal samples were collected on days 21 to 28 of each period.Results and Discussion The results showed that using hay net significantly increased feeding time from 257 to 659 minutes per day and decreased forage intake rate from 1592 and 610 g/h (P<0.05). The hay-net did not affect the total VFA and relative VFAs concentrations (P< 0.05). Lactobacillus populations in horses with hay-net increased compared to those without hay-net (P<0.05). The populations of cellulolytic, amylolytic, Escherichia coli, and coliforms bacteria were unchanged by hay-net. The activity of carboxy methyl cellulase enzyme significantly increased (P<0.05), while the activity of microcrystalline cellulase, amylase, and filter paper decomposition activity was not affected by hay-net.Conclusion In comparison with the more traditional methods, slow-feed hay net devices successfully limited the forage intake rate, expanded feeding time, and changed the activity of some fiber-decomposing enzymes in the large intestine of horses; however, the recommendation of hay-nets for nutritional management in horses needs further investigations.
Hadi Behzad; Taghi Ghoorchi; Mostafa Hossein Abadi; Jafar Bashtini
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 137-149
Abstract
Introduction: The total fecal collection (TFC) method is a reliable method for determining the digestibility of diets by animals. In this method, the animals are kept in a metabolic cage to collect all the feces and hence it is the most accurate method to measure the digestibility of the feed. Despite ...
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Introduction: The total fecal collection (TFC) method is a reliable method for determining the digestibility of diets by animals. In this method, the animals are kept in a metabolic cage to collect all the feces and hence it is the most accurate method to measure the digestibility of the feed. Despite the high accuracy of this method, TFC is labor intensive and time consuming when evaluating a wide range of feed samples and requires many animals. Also, considering that being surrounded by camels is accepted for a short period of time and for camels that are fed with rations containing high amounts of energy, the animals should be confined in the stall. Another disadvantage of keeping a trapped animal is the possible effect on the animal's metabolism. These problems led to separation from the animal's natural behavior. Accurate measurement of feed intake and stool collection are difficult. Digestibility coefficients can be also measured indirectly by markers. There arevarious indigestible markers including polyethylene, chromium oxide (Cr2O3), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and acid insoluble ash (AIA) to determine the digestibility of nutrients in different parts of the digestive tract. At the end of the 19th century, lignin was used as a potential internal marker to estimate digestibility. Given that there are no specific enzymes for lignin degradation in mammals or anaerobic bacteria, different results have been reported by researchers when using ADL to estimate digestibility. Digestibility was underestimated when using AIA as a natural marker. However, it is difficult to use the AIA method for grazing animals. One of the advantages of AIA compared to other indicators is the simplicity of its analysis and does not require special equipment. This study was aimed to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in camels using AIA, ADL and TFC methods.Materials and Methods: To measure the apparent digestibility of nutrients using AIA, ADL and TFC methods, four male camels (age= 1 year, weight = 116.3 ± 9.35 kg) were used. This experiment was carried out based on a completely in a fully randomized design. The experimental period was 42 days (2 periods of 21 days) with 14 days of adaptation to the experimental diets and 7 days of data collection. Camels had free access to water and feeding was done once a day at 8 AM. In order to determine the apparent digestibility of feed nutrients, feces and feed samples were collected at the end of the 7 days of the experiment. The fecal samples weighed at 8:00 AM before feeding. The camels were kept in the stall for 5 days for adaptation. Then each camel was placed in an individual cage. In this experiment, three types of agricultural waste were used, including wheat straw, pomegranate pomace and chicken manure.Results and Discussion: The results showed a significant difference in the digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber between the two methods of AIA and TFC in diets containing wheat straw or pomegranate pomace (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the digestibility coefficients of nutrients of wheat straw diet with chicken manure between the two methods of AIA and TFC. The recovery percentage of AIA marker in diet containing 75% wheat straw + 25% poultry manure was 105.14±17.08.Conclusions: In general, it seems that due to the weak correlation between the three methods of measuring digestibility and considering the existing limitations, including the cost and many facilities, especially in large livestock, in determining digestibility with the method TFC and ADL, the AIA method can be used to determine digestibility in camels.
Reza Khodaverdi; Mohammad Hassan Fathi Nasri; Hassan Fazaeli; seysd homayoon farhangfar
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 151-165
Abstract
Introduction: The use of agricultural plants resistant to environmental stresses, such as fodder beet, is inevitable in water shortage conditions. Such products have high moisture, which makes it difficult to store them. Total mixed ration (TMR) silage can be a good solution for this problem. This research ...
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Introduction: The use of agricultural plants resistant to environmental stresses, such as fodder beet, is inevitable in water shortage conditions. Such products have high moisture, which makes it difficult to store them. Total mixed ration (TMR) silage can be a good solution for this problem. This research was carried out in order to evaluate the feasibility of using of using TMR silage containing 25 or 35% of fodder beet (DM basis) in the feeding of fattening lambs by in vitro and in vivo methods. Material and Methods: In the in vitro experiment, diets containing two levels of fodder beet (25% and 35%, DM basis) were ensiled as TMR silage for 60 days and some important silage fermentation properties were evaluated. In the in vivo study, diet containing 25% fodder beet was used in the feeding of fattening lambs in two forms of TMR silage (60-days silage) and TMR for 70 days.Results and Discussion: The amount of dry matter, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber , water-soluble carbohydrates, crude fat and ash in the whole plant (aerial organ and root) of fodder beet were 17.1, 11.1, 35.9, 19.6, 50.1, 0.59 and 8.1 percent, respectively. Silage fermentation properties and aerobic stability were significantly affected by diet and time (P<0.05). Increasing the level of dietary fodder beet, decreased pH and concentrations of CP, true protein and starch of experimental silages. The pH value of silage containing 25% fodder beet on the 15th day and the pH value of silage containing 35% fodder beet on the ninth day of the aerobic stability test compared to the concentration on the first day of reopening suffered aerobic spoilage with an increase of half a unit (4.73 vs. 4.17 and 4.53 vs. 3.94, respectively) which indicates the weaker aerobic stability of silage containing 35% fodder beet. Lambs fed with TMR silage, consumed more (P<0.05) dry matter than the control group (1914.7 vs. 1756.9 g/day), and other performance indices did not show significant differences. The concentration of all blood parameters in the experimental lambs was in the normal range, which shows that the lambs did not suffer from metabolic problems or special complications by feeding the experimental diets.Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from this research, feeding TMR silage containing 25% fodder beet caused better fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability compared to 35% level, and it seems that it can be used for feeding fattening lambs, without any adverse effect on performance and health.
Amir Hossein Rezakhani; Kamran Rezayazdi; Yunes Ali Alijoo
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 167-178
Abstract
Introduction The beginning of lactation is one of the important performance signs related to health, fertility and production in lactating cows. Meeting the energy needs is considered as the main challenge of lactating cows at this period. Increasing the mobilization of body fat is one of the ways to ...
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Introduction The beginning of lactation is one of the important performance signs related to health, fertility and production in lactating cows. Meeting the energy needs is considered as the main challenge of lactating cows at this period. Increasing the mobilization of body fat is one of the ways to meet the lack of energy, which can lead to an increase in the supply of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Therefore, management strategies based on nutrition can play an important role in increasing energy intake and minimizing negative energy balance (NEB). The use of fat supplements can be considered as an effective solution to increase the amount of energy in the diets of fresh cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding different fat supplements containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on production performance, blood and rumen parameters in fresh Holstein cows.Materials and Methods In this study, 32 Holstein cows with average live body weight 649.2 ± 29.11 kg and body condition score of 3.78 ± 0.30 were used after calving for 21 days in a completely randomized design in four experimental groups. Experimental treatments included: 1) control: no fat supplement, 2) unsaturated: containing calcium salt of unsaturated fatty acids, three percent based on DM, 3) saturated: containing calcium salt of saturated fatty acids, three percentage based on DM and 4) mixed: contained an equal mixture of both types of fat supplements. Dry matter intake (DMI) was measured daily. Cows were milked three times a day at 05:00, 13:00 and 21:00 in a parlor and milk yield was recorded. Milk was sampled at each milking on days 7, 14 and 21 until analyzed for fat. Body weight was measured on days 7, 14 and 21 after parturition. Blood samples were collected from subcaudal vein with vacuum tubes containing anticoagulant heparin on days 0, 7 and 21 after parturition. After separating the serum using a centrifuge, for the measurement of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, NEFA and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), samples were sent to the laboratory. Ruminal fluid is collected on the d 21 after parturition, two to three hours after morning feeding by the esophageal tube and using a suction pump, and after passing through the filter and measuring the pH by a portable pH meter, was sent to the laboratory to measure volatile fatty acids (VFA).Results and Discussion The results of the study showed that the calcium salt of unsaturated fatty acids caused a decrease, and the calcium salt of saturated and mixed fatty acids caused an increase in DMI compared to the control treatment. Milk production, milk fat percentage, 4% fat corrected milk production, energy corrected milk production, feed efficiency, blood concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and BHBA values, as well as rumen fermentation parameters were not affected by the treatments. The concentration of NEFA in the plasma, in the control treatment and the treatment containing calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids, were measured above the safety margin provided for sub clinical ketosis.Conclusion According to the lactation performance of cows, the absence of problems regarding the amounts of NEFA and BHBA as indicators of metabolic disorders and the ineffectiveness of supplements on rumen fermentation parameters, it seems that it is possible to use an equal mixture (50:50) of fat supplements of calcium salts containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the diet of fresh dairy cows in the amount of three percent.
zahra Mostafaie; Mehran Torki; Kianosh Chaghamirza; Rouhallah Sharifi
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 179-190
Abstract
Introduction: Corn and wheat are the main sources of energy in poultry diets worldwide, although due to its availability, wheat can be a good substitute for corn in the diet of broilers and laying hens. However, the inclusion level of wheat is limited often because wheatbased diet contained higher levels ...
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Introduction: Corn and wheat are the main sources of energy in poultry diets worldwide, although due to its availability, wheat can be a good substitute for corn in the diet of broilers and laying hens. However, the inclusion level of wheat is limited often because wheatbased diet contained higher levels ofsoluble non-starch polysaccharidesThe arabinoxylans are the main NSP in wheat that increasing the viscosity of the digesta and reducing nutrient digestibility of direct-fed microbial (DFM) supplements include Bacillus velezensis, Trichoderma, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which are used as biological control agents due to their high ability to suppress disease agents and inhibit the proliferation of intestinal pathogens.Materials and Methods: The total number of 240 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were randomly distributed between 40 cages, and the five experimental diets including (A) corn-soybean meal-based control diet, (B) wheat-based diet with no microbial additive, (C) wheat-based diet with 1Í109 cfu/kg Bacillus velezensis, (D) wheat-based diet with 1Í105 cfu/kg Trichoderma and (E) wheat-based diet with B. velezensis + Trichoderma were assigned to hens with 8 replicate cages per diet and 6 hens per each replicate.Results and Discussion: The results showed that the addition of B. velezensis + Trichoderma to the diet led to an improvement in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and increased egg production (EP) and feed intake (FI; P<0.05)., Also, the pH of the contents of the jejunum, ileum and caecum was reduced in the treatments containing microorganisms(P<0.05). The DFMs enhanced the efficiency of nutrient adsorption and utilization, predominantly ascribable to the production of exogenous enzymes by the test probiotic. Prebiotics work as feed for the intestinal microflora and could stimulate the fermentation rate which increased the production of short chain fatty acids and reduced luminal pH. Hens fed microbe-added diets had higher plasma levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and high-density lipoprotein (P<0.05). The addition of B. velezensis + Trichoderma to the diet, modulated the ileal and caecal microflora composition by decreasing the numbers of Escherichia coli and increasing the numbers of Lactobacilli. Dietary supplemented by B. velezensis and Trichoderma could increase plasma Ca and P compared to other treatments, which can be interpreted as probiotics increase the rate of fermentation and reduce intestinal pH, leads to better absorption of Ca and P from the intestine. Improved intestinal morphology characteristics were observed in hens fed the microbe-added diets (P<0.05). These beneficial effects were directly associated with decrease in total microbes, E. coli and Salmonella and enhance lactic acid bacteria of cecal. Consistently, addition of B. subtilis manipulated the gut ecosystem toward beneficial bacteria and enhanced the development and health of gastrointestinal tract. The positive effects of DFMs on eggshell quality can be attributed to the enhancement of gut health and intestinal tract microflora environment. Also, modifying the gut microflora composition by promoting the growth of beneficial microflora (such as lactic acid bacteria) and inhibiting the growth of Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens is beneficial effects of DFMs. The present study confirmed B. velezensis and Trichoderma enhanced the colonization of the beneficial bacteria and reduced the colonization of enteric bacteria. Maintaining a healthy intestine by probiotics and prebiotics will improve the ability of birds to overcome the disease and enhance their performance. Highest count of aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, anaerobic bacteria, and E. coli were associated with Trichoderma reesei. Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that adding B. velezensis + Trichoderma to the wheat-based diets improve performance of laying hens, decrease plasma levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL and the intestinal pH and number of E. coli.
Mozfar Kouchaki; mohammad shamsollahi; Farshid Fatahnia; Hooman Farzadi; Yahya Mohammadi
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 191-205
Abstract
Introduction Sheep producers would benefit from the opportunity to change offspring sex ratio towards their preferred gender. For example, male lambs have higher average daily gain and better carcass quality than female lambs. Thereby reaching a higher market weight over a set time period. However, sheep ...
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Introduction Sheep producers would benefit from the opportunity to change offspring sex ratio towards their preferred gender. For example, male lambs have higher average daily gain and better carcass quality than female lambs. Thereby reaching a higher market weight over a set time period. However, sheep interprises require breeding females, which may lead to a higher sale price of first-cross ewes at weaning. Maternal nutrition has potential to affect many aspects of reproduction outcomes including ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, embryo survival and sex ratio of offspring. It has been indicated that some dietary nutrients including glucose and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as total energy could affect offspring sex ratio in different mammalian species. The influence of dietary mineral balance affect offspring sex ratio in sow and ewe. Experiments on pre- and postconception mechanisms demonstrated that these mechanisms influence the sex ratio in mouse embryos. Some studies based on theories that sperm carrying the X or Y chromosome favored different vaginal pH. Therefore, it has been suggested that the pH of the vagina at the time of fertilization may have a differential effect on X- or Y- sperm, thus affecting the sex of the offspring. Feeding a negative dietary cation- anion difference (DCAD) in prepartum dairy cows improves Ca metabolism in the peripartum cow through instigating a mild metabolic acidosis via feeding excess dietary anions. We hypothesized that feeding diet with negative DCAD around mating would decrase the pH of veginal fluid and subsequently might affect lamb sex ratio in Kurdish ewes. Therfore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary DCAD of flushing diet around mating on plasma metabolites and hormones concentrations and reproductive performance of Kurdish ewes as well as lamb sex ratio.Materials and Methods Eighty four Kurdish ewes with average BW of 40±5 kg, BCS of 2.75±0.25 and 2-4 years were used. Ewes were divided into two similar groups and randomly assigned to experimental diets. Experimental diets consisted of 1- cationic diet (diet with DCAD of +193 mEq/kg of DM) and 2- anionic diet (diet with DCAD of -21 mEq/kg of DM). Ewes fed experimental diets from 2 weeks before estrous synchronization till 3 weeks after mating. Estrous of ewes were synchronized by 9-d intravaginal sponge and intramuscular injection of 5 mL vetaroline at the day of sponge removal. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein using 10-mL evacuated tube containing sodium heparin at the day before the beginning of experiment, at the day of sponge removal and at the day of estrous and mating. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, total protein, urea nitrogen, glucose, triglyceride, insulin, progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium were determined.Results and Discussion Experimental diets had no effect on estrous response, fertility rate, lambing rate, twining rate and birth BW and sex of lambs. Ewes fed anionic diet had higher plasma progesterone and lower estradiol levels at the days of sponge removal and estrous than those fed cationic diet (P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of total protein, glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium did not influence by DCAD of flushing diet. Whereas, feeding anionic diet around mating decreased plasma concentration of total cholesterol and triglyceride and increased urea nitrogen (P<0.05).Conclusion According to these results, feeding flushing diet with different DCAD around mating had no effect on lamb sex ratio in Kurdish ewes.
Ramin Farhadi; Abbas Farshad; Jalal Rostamzadeh; Abouzar Najafi
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2024, Pages 207-217
Abstract
The present study was conducted in order to use different levels of curcumin in the diluting sperm epididymis of Shal breed rams during storage at five degrees Celsius in the form of a completely randomized design with four treatments in six replications. Sperm samples were extracted from the testicular ...
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The present study was conducted in order to use different levels of curcumin in the diluting sperm epididymis of Shal breed rams during storage at five degrees Celsius in the form of a completely randomized design with four treatments in six replications. Sperm samples were extracted from the testicular tissue and used in the Tris-egg yolk diluent. Different concentrations of curcumin including 0, 10, 25 and 50 μM were added to the diluents. The samples were gradually cooled at 5°C and after stabilization at this temperature, in 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, the parameters of total motility, progressive motility, viability, membrane integrity and the percentage of sperm abnormalities were evaluated. The results showed that the use of 25μM curcumin improved the parameters of total motility, progressive motility, viability and membrane integrity only at 6 and 12 hours, but no significant difference was observed at 24 and 48 hours compared to other treatment groups. Regarding sperm abnormalities, no significant difference was observed between the treatments in all the examined times. The results of this study indicate that using a concentration of 25μM curcumin can lead to the improvement of ram epididymal sperm quality in the initial periods of storage, but it loses its effect in longer periods of time. Therefore, it is recommended to use nanotechnology methods to improve the effectiveness of curcumin, especially during long-term storage of ram sperm.