Sex preselection of sٍheep embryo by altering the minerals of maternal nutrition

Several methods have been conducted for embryo sex preselection, which includes X- and Y- sperm separation, changing the pH of the female reproductive tract, time of mating before or after ovulation, and feeding formula, such as altering the presence of minerals in diet content before breeding may affect the embryo sex preselection ratio. In this study, three food formulas to feed female sheep were created with the cooperation of the Arabian Agricultural Services Company (Arasco). Ewes were fed with modified food formulas for one month before mating with males. The first group (A) (30 ewes), modified for male embryo gender preselection, were fed a diet with an increased percentage of the minerals Na⁺, K^+, and P^-. The second group (B) (30 ewes), modified for female sex preselection, were fed a diet with an increased percentage of the minerals Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺. The third (control) group (C) (30 ewes) were fed the regular (Wafi) food formula. Our results showed no significant differences were in mean body weights between the three groups at the end of the feeding period. The results of different feeding formulas on mineral serum blood samples of ewes showed an increase in Na⁺, K^+, and Cl^- ions in the serum of group (A) compared to the other groups (B and C). The concentration of Na⁺ in the serum of group (A) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than group (C). The concentration of Cl^- ions in serum samples of ewes in group (A) was significantly higher than group (C) and group (B) (P < 0.05). The role of maternal feeding on embryo sex preselection shows that the pregnancy rate of animals in group (A) was 73.33%. Group (A) birthed 17 males and 5 females (77.27% and 22.72%, respectively). The pregnancy rate in group (B) was 70%. Group (B) birthed 6 males (27.27%) and 16 females (72.72%). Finally, the control group (C) had a pregnancy rate of 76.66%. They birthed 13 males (54.41%) and 11 females (44.83%). The results of our study confirm that altering the percentage of minerals in the maternal diet plays a role in sex preselection in sheep, which agree with other mammalian studies in rats and mice. Thus, the result of this study can help farmers to manage their breeding. We recommend that more studies on the relationship between minerals in the diet should be conducted for other spices and human sex preselection.