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Effects of Age, Body Weight, Body Condition and Scrotal Circumference on Sperm Abnormalities of Bulls Used for Artificial Insemination (ai) Programme in Bangladesh

Md. Jalal Uddin Sarder
Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Impacts of age, body weight, body conditions, and scrotal circumference on sperm abnormalities of bulls used for artificial insemination (AI) in Bangladesh have been studied. During 1997-2002, 1390 ejaculates of semen from 71 bulls from Central Cattle Breeding Station and Dairy Farm, Savar, Dhaka, Rajshahi Dairy and Cattle Improvement Farm, Rajabarihat, and District Artificial Insemination Centre, Rajshahi, were collected and examined. Total head abnormalities, free loose head, mid-piece, tail abnormalities, proximal and distal cytoplamic droplets, total tail abnormalities and total sperm abnormalities were recorded. Age of the bulls had significant effect on sperm abnormalities (P<0.01) except for proximal cytoplasmic droplet. Similarly, body weight had significant effect (P<0.05) except for the total head abnormalities, while body conditions had no significant effect on mid-piece, total tail abnormalities and total sperm abnormalities except for the total head abnormalities. Scrotal circumference had significant effect (P<0.05) on all the sperm abnormalities. The present results demonstrate that the middle (8 to <10 yrs) and older (>10 yrs) bulls having body weight of <450 kg, very good body condition and 36 to <38 cm scrotal circumference had the lowest sperm abnormalities. The need for semen examination for morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa in bulls to be used for AI programme is strongly implicated by this study.

Keywords: Bull sperm abnormalities, Body weight, Scrotal circumference, Artificial insemination

Location: Rajshahi

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity:

Objectives:

To study impacts of age, body weight, body conditions and scrotal circumference on sperm abnormalities of bulls used in three AI centres in Bangladesh

Methodology:

A total of 1390 ejaculates of semen collected from 71 bulls used for AI programmes in Bangladesh at Central Cattle Breeding Station and Dairy Farm, Savar, Dhaka, Rajshahi Dairy and Cattle Improvement Farm, Rajabarihat and District Artificial Insemination Centre, Rajshashi, during 1997-2002. A total of 714 ejaculates of semen for head abnormalities and 676 for tail abnormalities were used. Bulls were classified into 4-5 groups according to their age, body weight, body conditions and scrotal circumference (Table-1). Age of the bulls was determined from the birth register and by examining their teeth. The body weight of each bull was recorded in kg using large weighbridge or calculated according to the Shaeffer’s formula (McNitt, 1983): L×G2/300×2.2 where L = body length in inch, and G = girth in inch. The body conditions of the bulls were scored into 1 to 4 scales (Nicholson & Butterworth, 1986). Measurements of the scrotal circumference were made at the area of the largest diameter of the scrotum using a cloth tape as described by Ott (1991). The normal sperm heads were free from any detectable abnormalities. Any head abnormalities in spermatozoa were detected and categorized according to Williams' (1920) classification. At least 500 spermatozoa from separate individual smears were examined for head abnormalities and microphotographs were taken. The morphology of sperm mid-piece and tail was studied after fixing with buffered Formol-saline at ambient temperature. The saline was prepared according to the method described by Hancock (1957) that consisted of 34.4 mmol di-sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na₂HPO₄. 2H₂O), 18.7 mmol potassium di-hydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), 92.6 mmol sodium chloride (NaCl), 1.54 mmol formaldehyde and distilled water to constitute 1000 ml. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) using the computer programme SPSS (version 10.1). Interpretations were derived from the data categorized into total sperm abnormalities owing to age, body weight, body conditions and scrotal circumference of the bulls under study (Steel & Torrie, 1980).

Source of Information: Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 27, 2008 pp. 73-78 ISSN 1023-6104

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Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present results suggest that the bulls of 8 to >10 yrs, <450 kg body weight, having very good body condition and 36 to <38 cm scrotal circumference ensure the lowest percentage of sperm abnormalities. These findings are of immense importance for the selection of breeding bulls to be used for the AI programme in different farms in the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal