This study examined the effectiveness of epicatechin (EPI) supplementation in enhancing the post-thaw quality of turkey semen. Semen samples collected from 40 adult Big 6 male turkeyswere divided into five experimental groups: fresh semen, cryopreserved semen, and threecryopreserved groups with 10, 25, and 50 µM of EPI. Samples were cryopreserved in a Beltsville turkey semen extender containing soybean lecithin, kanamycin, and glycerol, then stored in liquid nitrogen for one month. Sperm motility, membrane integrity and functionality, acrosome integrity,mitochondrial activity, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis/necrosis, and ROS production were evaluated. Moreover, microbial analysis was performed on bacterial isolates using the MALDI Biotyper. Results demonstrated that EPI supplementation significantly improved all evaluated sperm quality parameters in a dose-dependent manner compared to the cryopreserved control, with 50 µM EPI yielding optimal results. At this concentration, sperm motility increased from 33.31% to 62.02%, membrane integrity from 52.67% to 67.33%, and mitochondrial activity from 43.56% to 65.79%. Additionally, 50 µM EPI reduced DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, and necrosis rates while demonstrating enhanced antimicrobial properties. These findings suggest that epicatechin enhances turkey sperm cryosurvival through multiple protective mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, membrane stabilization, and antimicrobial effects. EPI supplementation represents a promising strategy for improving the efficiency of turkey semen cryopreservation.
sperm, reactive oxygen species, cryopreservation, antibacterial activity, sperm postthaw quality