Fecal samples and blood samples were collected from 80 rams (50 suffering from unthriftness, weakness, diarrhea, recumbency of some rams - 30 from healthy ram) from private farms at Abo Hamad city, Sharkia Province for parasitological examination and estimation of copper level in blood. Post parasitological examination 15 rams were divided into three equal groups. 1st Gp healthy rams free from any parasites with normal copper level (control), 2nd Gp rams suffering from previous signs with low copper level not treated, 3rd Gp rams suffering from previous signs with low copper level treated with 1gm copper sulphate /liter drinking water for one month. At 1st, 15th and 30th day post treatment blood and semen samples were collected from each ram for study hematobiochemical parameters and semen character.
Parasitological examination of faecal samples revealed presence of parasites eggs in 11 healthy rams (6 single infection - 5 mixed infection) beside presence parasites eggs in 20 hypocuprotic rams (11 single infection - 9 mixed infection)
Hypocupritic rams revealed significant decrease in RBCs, Hb, PCV, WBCs, total protein, albumin, globulin, copper, selenium, zinc, iron, testosterone, triiodothyronine, thyroxin, sperm number, sperm motility, insignificant reduction in ejaculate volume, significant elevation in ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, dead sperm and sperm abnormality.
Improvement of hematobiochemical and semen parameters was observed at 1st day post treatment with copper sulphate.
It could be concluded that copper deficiency affects male fertility and hematobiochemical parameters, copper sulphate is effective in ameliorating adverse effect of copper deficiency in rams.