Evaluation of Kappa‐carrageenan supplementation in extender for post‐thaw Kajli ram sperm quality

Cryopreservation is one of the reliable techniques for long‐term storage of sperm. The success of this technique depends on the choice of cryoprotectant; therefore, a plethora of literature has reported the effects of different cryoprotective agents so far. Kappa‐carrageenan (κ‐carrageenan) is a hydrocolloid polysaccharide extracted from red marine seaweed. Its unique property makes it a promising option as a non‐colligative cryoprotectant. The current study aims to evaluate the cryoprotective effect of k‐carrageenan along with glycerol on ram sperm quality both after equilibration and freezing. Nine Kajli rams were utilized in this experiment for semen collection through an artificial vagina maintained at 42°C. Qualified samples were diluted in tris egg yolk glycerol (TEYG) extender containing different concentrations of k‐carrageenan as 0 mg/mL (control), 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1 mg/mL. Post‐thaw assessment was done at 37°C after 24 h of storage, which showed a significant improvement (p