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Influence of Age on the Spermiogramic Parameters of Native Sheep

M. R. Hassan
PhD Fellow
Goat & Sheep Production Research Division, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to evaluate the qualities of ram semen in different age groups (one to four years) were evaluated. The parameters included testes length (cm), testes breadth (cm), scrotal circumference (cm), live weight (kg), semen volume (ml), PH, sperm concentration (x109), motility (%), percentage of live, dead and normal, abnormal spermatozoa of native sheep. The average semen volume (ml) found to be 0.60, 0.91, 0.85 and 0.87; sperm concentration (109/ml) 1.03, 3.27, 4.45 and 4.17 and finally motility (%) were found to be 68.07, 75.03, 75.01 and 76.25 respectively for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year age of native ram. The effects of age on all parameters (testes length, semen volume, semen pH, sperm concentration, motility, viability, normal spermatozoa) were significant except testes breadth and scrotal circumference. The value of all of these parameters increased linearly up to three years with the increase of age except PH. The result of the present study indicated that scrotal diameter, serving capacity; normal and live spermatozoa were comparatively better during the 3rd year than the 1st and 2nd year of age while the values were almost similar at 3rd and 4th year of age. With the increasing of age, the semen quality improved and stabilized up to at the age of 3 years.

Keywords: Native sheep, Spermiogramic parameter, Age

Location: Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute

Start Date: 01-07-2007

End Date: 30-06-2009

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Sheep

Objectives:

To know the changes of testicular characteristics and spermiogramic parameters influencing them on age variation and their correlation with semen production.

Methodology:

Thirty-six indigenous rams of average body weight 23±2.45 were selected from Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute. On the basis of age the animals were divided into four groups (1year, 2year, 3year and 4year of age) having nine rams in each. Rams were kept separately in slatted floor permanent house and allowed to graze 6-7 hours/day along with supplemented concentrate (300 gm/ram/day) and germinated gram (10 gm/ram/day). Water was provided ad libitum. The scrotal circumference (SC), testis length (TL), testis breath (TB) was recorded fortnightly by spermatic cord grasping in the first week until the end of the experiment in centimeter and body weight (kg) were recorded fortnightly. The rams were trained up for semen collection into an artificial vagina (AV) using receptive restrained ewes. Semen of four groups of ram was collected weekly using AV. Immediately after collection, semen samples were placed in a water bath at 37.5ºC and semen volume was estimated in a calibrated semen collection tube and pH was determined by using pH meter. Transparency and consistency of semen was determined with eye estimation. Motility was determined on a warm stage (35ºC) under a light microscope.Sperm concentration was determined by means of a Neubauer haemocytometer under a 40x magnification. Percentages of live and dead sperm and; normal and abnormal sperm were determined by eosine-aniline and eosine-negrosin staining on a glass slide respectively (Vilakazi and Webb, 2004). Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Science version 11.5) and correlation was measured by Pearson’s correlation test.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(2): 301–304, 2009

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget: 240000

Total Budget (Tk.) : 240000

Achievement/Findings:

The least square means and standard error of body weight (BW), semen volume (SV) and sperm concentration (SPC) of different age groups were highly significant (p<0.001).Although the TL of rams in different age groups were significant (p<0.01) but the effect of age on breadth and SC were nonsignificant (p>0.05). Scrotal diameter increased rapidly during the 2nd year of age and grew slowly over the 3rd year. With increase in age, ram showed increase percentages of motility and viability of sperm at one, two, three and four years old rams. From this experiment, semen was examined for transparency and consistency, which varied from an appearance of cloudy to opaque and watery to thick creamy. In younger stage (one year) the semen consistency was watery to thin creamy and changed gradually (thick creamy) with the increasing age up to three years and then normal sperm percentage of one year aged ram was lower while higher results were obtained in the other three groups.The correlation of testis length with testis breadth, scrotal circumference, body weight, sperm volume and sperm concentration as well as sperm motility were positive (p<0.01) except pH. However, body weight and age closely correlated with testis measurements.Positive correlation was found between semen volume and sperm concentration. Although testis length and scrotal circumference was positively correlated with the sperm concentration but the negative result was obtained in case of testis breadth.In conclusion, scrotal diameter, serving capacity and; normal and viable spermatozoa were optimum during the 3rd year than the 1st and 2nd year of age. As age increased, semen quality improved and stabilized at the age of 3rd to 4th years. The results of this study, lead to postulate that the suitability of testicular and scrotal measurements as a criteria for early selection of ram lamb. Further studies on spermatogenetic activity will be needed to confirm the present results.

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