The effects of supplementation of vitamin D to the egg‐yolk extender on cryopreservation of ram semen

Objectives This study aimed to examine the effects of supplementation of vitamin D to the egg‐yolk extender on characteristics of frozen–thawed ram semen. Methods Semen samples obtained from adult rams were pooled and divided into five equal volumes. It was reconstituted with extenders containing different concentrations of vitamin D: 0 (control), 12.5 (VITD 12.5), 25 (VITD 25), 50 (VITD 50), and 100 ng/mL (VITD 100), and then they were frozen. Sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane functional integrity, acrosomal integrity, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the groups were evaluated after sperm thawing. Results Total motility and progressive motility were higher in VITD 50 than in all other groups (p