141 Effect of combined treatment of melatonin and equine chorionic gonadotrophin on fresh semen quality of Beetal bucks during the non-breeding season

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
M. Abbas ◽  
M. Irfan-ur-Rehman Khan ◽  
A. Rehman ◽  
N. Hameed ◽  
I. Mohsin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Simultaneous Administration ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Fresh Semen ◽  
Velocity Average ◽  
Lateral Head

In the subtropics, bucks show seasonal breeding patterns, and their semen quality decreases during the non-breeding season. Therefore, breeders tend to improve bucks’ semen quality before the breeding season for higher conception rates. In the current study, we hypothesised that simultaneous administration of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (ECG) and melatonin would improve fresh semen quality in bucks before the breeding season. Nine Beetal bucks were randomly assigned (n=3 per treatment) to three treatments: control, melatonin, and melatonin + ECG. Melatonin implants (18 mg; BTC Lab) were placed subcutaneously at the base of the ear. Bucks in the melatonin + ECG treatment were administered ECG (400 IU; Syncro-Part, Ceva Santé Animale) intramuscularly on every fourth day until the end of the experiment. Control bucks were administered normal saline (400 IU; Otuska Pakistan) intramuscularly on every fourth day. Semen was collected twice per week using an artificial vagina (42°C) and immediately evaluated for volume, color, pH, and contaminants. Sperm concentration, motility and kinematics (curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement), viability, DNA, and acrosomal and mitochondrial integrity were monitored using a computer-assisted semen analyzer (AndroVision, Minitube). Weekly concentrations of plasma testosterone and melatonin of all bucks were analysed using radioimmunoassay (Immunotech, Beckman Coulter Ltd.) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (450nm), respectively. Comparisons within and between treatments were made using generalised linear models (repeated-measures analysis of variance). Weekly single-point variance between the treatments was determined (analysis of variance) at P ≤ 0.05 (SPSS ver. 20.0; IBM Corp.). Semen quality (volume, pH, total motility (%), and concentration) improved after Week 4 in the melatonin + ECG treatment compared with the control and melatonin treatments (P<0.05). Similarly, progressive motility (%), viability, DNA, acrosomal and mitochondrial integrity, and sperm kinematics (curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement) improved (P<0.05) after Week 4 in the melatonin + ECG treatment. Similarly, non-viability and ratio of abnormal spermatozoa decreased by Week 3 in the melatonin + ECG treatment (P<0.05) compared with the control and melatonin treatments. Likewise, plasma testosterone concentration (ngmL−1) of bucks was higher (P<0.05) at Week 3 in the melatonin + ECG treatment (4.2±0.2) than in the melatonin (0.8±0.1) and control (1.2±0.1) treatments. Within the melatonin + ECG treatment, plasma testosterone concentration was higher (P<0.05) at Week 5 (4.9±0.2) and Week 9 (4.5±0.1) than at Week 3 (4.2±0.2). Plasma melatonin concentration (pgmL−1) increased (P<0.05) from Week 5 onward in the melatonin + eCG (12.5±0.1) and melatonin (10.2±0.1) treatments compared with the control (2.65±0.1). In conclusion, the simultaneous administration of melatonin and ECG improved fresh semen quality in Beetal bucks.

scholarly journals Efecto de la composición racial sobre la calidad espermática de verracos

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Valverde-Abarca ◽  
Mónica Madrigal-Valverde ◽  
Marlen Camacho-Calvo ◽  
Adones Zambrana-Jiménez ◽  
Leonardo López
Keyword(s):  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Active Movement ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Swine Farms ◽  
Progressive Motility ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Lateral Head

The assessment of the semen quality is an essential tool to improve the reproductive indexes in swine farms. The motility is the most important parameter that used in the sperm quality evaluation because it is associated with the energy of the spermatozoon. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of breed composition on reproductive variables of sperm quality, kinetics and semen motility in boars. During 2016, 240 ejaculates were collected from 63 boars with a mean age of 24.4±10.9 months. Six racial groups were identified: Duroc (D), Yorkshire (Y), Landrace (L), F1 Pietrain*Duroc (PD) and two genetic lines (LA and LB). The breeds with the highest ejaculate volume presented a higher total number of spermatozoa (P<0.05). The effect of the breed was significant (P<0.05) on sperm kinetics variables except for amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, μm). The Landrace breed presented the highest (P<0.05) percentage of static sperm (29.30±1.57). The most relevant differences (P<0.05) for total motility (MTOT) and progressive motility (MP), were presented between L and PD with values of 70.71±1.57; 77.48±1.09 and 51.80±1.97; 59.85±1.37% respectively. Adult boars (≥18 months) had higher volumes of ejaculate and total number of sperm than boars in the intermediate and young ages, however, for velocities (μm/s): curvilinear (VCL), straight line (VSL) and average path (VAP), adult boars only were different (P<0.05) of the boars in-between ages. Four sperm subpopulations (SP) were identified, SP1 (46.83%) characterized by a moderate speed, but of very progressive motility, SP2 (14.78%) with active movement, but not progressive, SP3 (8.45%) with low speeds and progressive path and SP4 (29.94%) with quick movement, but without progressivity.

Characterisation of movement pattern and velocities of stallion spermatozoa depending on donor, season and cryopreservation

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Warnke ◽  
A. Tuchscherer ◽  
Hannelore Alm ◽  
W. Kanitz ◽  
S. Blottner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Casa System ◽  
Lateral Head

The aim of the study was to compare different types of movement pattern and velocities of stallion spermatozoa depending on cryopreservation during breeding and non-breeding season. Ejaculates were collected from four stallions during May (n = 24) and December (n = 24). Parameters of sperm movement were evaluated by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) system, and included percentages of motile spermatozoa, different patterns of motility, the velocity, linearity (LIN), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat-cross frequency (BCF). In winter the average percentages of motility were slightly higher compared to the breeding season in May (70.8 ± 12.7% vs. 66.8 ± 12.2%, respectively). Cryopreservation and thawing led to a significant decrease in the number of motile sperm to 11.3 ± 5.8% in May and 15.6 ± 7.0% in December. The pattern of motility was also changed. Detailed analysis by CASA demonstrated that cryopreservation resulted in a shift from the proportions of linear to more non-linear motile spermatozoa and to a significant increase of local motile and hyperactivated spermatozoa. Mean velocity of fresh motile spermatozoa differed between May and December (119.1 ± 43.9 vs. 164.4 ± 66.4 µm/sec, respectively; P < 0.05). Cryopreservation and thawing led to a slight increase of curvilinear velocity (VCL) and straight line velocity (VSL). The motility analysis has shown that the parameters BCF and ALH were highly correlated in stallion spermatozoa (r = -0.67; P < 0.001). The BCF of stallion spermatozoa was slightly reduced in the non-breeding season. Altogether, the influence of factors on the motility of stallion spermatozoa has the following rank order: cryopreservation (P < 0.0001) ≯ stallion (P < 0.001) ≯ season (P < 0.05).

33 Caffeine improves equine sperm motility after thawing

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
M. A. Lagares ◽  
N. C. Alves ◽  
A. L. A. Guimaraes ◽  
S. B. Luz ◽  
S. A. Diniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
The Other ◽  
Semen Sample ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Sperm Transport ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Velocity Average ◽  
Lateral Head ◽  
Motility Parameters

The pattern of sperm transport and survival in the mare’s reproductive tract is different between fresh and frozen-thawed semen. A probable reason for this difference is the biophysiological changes in sperm during cryopreservation of equine semen. These changes can impair motility of stallion sperm after thawing. The aim of the present work was to test the effect of different caffeine concentrations on stallion sperm motility after thawing. One ejaculate of 9 stallions was frozen with the INRA82 frozen extender, and after thawing, different caffeine concentrations were added to the semen samples according to the treatments: control INRA82 without caffeine addition (T1), T1+1mM caffeine (T2), T1+2mM caffeine (T3), T1+3mM caffeine (T4), T1+5mM caffeine (T5), T1+7.5mM caffeine (T6), and T1+10mM caffeine (T7). The analysis of sperm motility parameters was performed with a computer-assisted semen analyser in 4 time periods: immediately after semen samples thawing (t0) and 15min (t15), 30min (t30), and 40min (t40) after semen sample thawing. One semen sample of each treatment was thawed, and an aliquot was analysed for the following computer-assisted semen analysis characteristics: velocity curvilinear (VCL; µm s−1), velocity straight line (µm s−1), velocity average path (µm s−1), linearity (%), straightness (%), wobble (%), amplitude of lateral head displacement (µm), beat cross frequency (BCF; Hz), and percentage of total sperm motility (TM) and progressive sperm motility. The statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and Duncan’s test. The sperm parameters progressive sperm motility, linearity, wobble, and amplitude of lateral head displacement did not differ among the treatments (P&gt;0.05). Immediately after addition (t0) of 5, 7.5, and 10mM caffeine concentrations, an increase of TM was observed (T5: 53.1%; T6: 45.9%; and T7: 47.4%) compared with the other treatments (T1: 37.5%; T2: 36.0%; T3: 36.6%; and T4: 32.3%; P&lt;0.05). Although after 15min of incubation (t15) the TM decreased compared with t0 in T5, T6, and T7 treatments, the percentage was comparable with the other treatments at t15, t30, and t40. The mean value for TM was higher with 5mM caffeine compared with the control group (38.6% v. 34.7%; P&lt;0.05), whereas for the 10mM caffeine treatment velocity straight line (19.9v. 17.1µm s−1), velocity average path (25.6v. 22.9µm s−1), and straightness (75.4v. 72.3%) were higher than the control (P&lt;0.05). For the 5, 7.5, and 10mM caffeine treatments, VCL and BCF were higher than the control (VCL: 33.9, 34.5, 36.8, and 31.5µm s−1, respectively; BCF: 8.1, 8.6, 9.0, and 7.2Hz, respectively). The remaining motility parameters did not differ until 40min after the treatment (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 5, 7.5, and 10mM caffeine concentrations after semen thawing increased TM and most of the sperm motility characteristics. However, given the complexities of sperm transport, capacitation, and so on, further experiments are needed to test whether caffeine treatments could be used to improve the fertilization rate of frozen-thawed equine semen.

9 Single Layer Centrifugation of Bull Semen Through Percoll Plus® Before Cryopreservation

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
A. Martins ◽  
F. N. Marqui ◽  
T. E. Cruz ◽  
T. I. H. Berton ◽  
D. G. Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Semen Quality ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Progressive Motility ◽  
Bull Semen ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Artificial Vagina ◽  
Lateral Head

We previously reported that single layer centrifugation (SLC) with Percoll® (GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden) of fresh bovine semen resulted in improved sperm progressive motility and movement, as evidenced by computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) after freezing-thawing. However, no report has been found in the literature on the use of Percoll Plus® (PP; GE Healthcare), a nontoxic colloid, for the same purpose. Thus, this study aimed to verify the effects of SLC-PP before bull sperm freezing on sperm kinematics after cryopreservation. Ejaculates were collected from 3 Nellore bulls (6 from each) using an artificial vagina. After collection, the semen was assessed and pooled, and then 1 billion spermatozoa either diluted [D; 1:2 (v/v)] in freezing extender (FE, without glycerol) or undiluted (UD) was layered on top of a 9-mL column of PP (in 15-mL centrifuge tubes) at concentrations of 70% or 90% to form the 70D, 70UD, 90D, and 90UD treatment groups. Following centrifugation for 13 min at 839 × g [except for the control (C) group], the supernatant was removed and the sperm pellet diluted to 50 × 106 sperm mL−1 in FE medium plus glycerol. Then, frozen–thawed sperm samples were analysed by CASA (MMC Sperm, St. Petersburg, Russia) for the following parameters: total motility (TM, %), progressive motility (PM, %), curvilinear velocity (VCL, µm−1), straight line velocity (VSL, µm s−1), average path velocity (VAP, µm s−1), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, µm), beat cross frequency (BCF, Hz), linearity (LIN, %), and straightness (STR, %). For statistical analyses, ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test were used. Data are presented as mean ± SEM with P < 0.05 taken as significant. No difference was found among the groups for TM, VSL, BCF, and STR. However, the percentage of PM was higher (P < 0.05) in the SLC-selected sperm samples (values ranging from 42.0 ± 7.0 to 47.4 ± 11.4) than in C (28.8 ± 5.0), and ALH was lower in 70UD (1.6 ± 0.12) and 70D (1.7 ± 0.10) than in C (1.9 ± 0.2). Moreover, 70UD (49.0 ± 1.0), 90UD (50.0 ± 3.0), and 90D (50.0 ± 4.0) displayed higher percentage of LIN (P < 0.05) compared with C (45.0 ± 2.0) and 70D (48.0 ± 3.0). On the other hand, similar results were obtained for VCL (from 126.3 ± 8.0 to 130.0 ± 20.5) and VAP (from 82.7 ± 14.5 to 85.1 ± 6.9) in C, 70UD, and 70D, but these values differed (P < 0.05) from those for VCL in 90UD (104.6 ± 10.3) and 90D (97.2 ± 22.0) as well as for VAP in 90UD (72.2 ± 11.0) and 90D (71.8 ± 9.6). These are the first data demonstrating favourable influences of SLC with 70% Percoll Plus® to select distinct sperm subpopulations as evidenced by enhanced PM, LIN, and ALH. Thus, SLC-PP could optimize the production of frozen bull semen by decreasing the number of sperm per insemination dose, and help to circumvent limitations associated with the poor semen quality sometimes found in bulls of high genetic merit. This research was funded by FAPESP # 2015/20986-3, MasterFertility and Tairana Artificial Insemination Station, Brazil.

Correlations of Motion Characteristics and KinematicAttributes of Fresh and Frozen-thawed Spermatozoaof Gir Bulls

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
P K Pathak ◽  
A J Dhami ◽  
D V Chaudhari
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Kinematic Parameters ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Motion Characteristics ◽  
Kinematics Parameters ◽  
Fresh Semen ◽  
Lateral Head

This investigation was carried out on semen of three healthy mature breeding bulls of Gir breed to evaluate the interrelationships among sperm quality attributes of fresh and frozen-thawed semen assessed by Biovis CASA. The ejaculates (n = 24) having >75% initial motility were diluted @80 million sperm/mL using TFYG extender, filled in French mini straws, and were frozen using a programmable bio freezer after 4 hours of equilibration. The straws were thawed in a water bath at 37°C for 30 sec. The freshly diluted and frozenthawed samples were assessed for routine subjective tests and various motion characteristics/kinematics by Biovis CASA. The Pearson’s correlations for sperm motility and velocity/kinematic parameters of total motile sperm as well as of progressively motile sperm were studied in freshly diluted and frozen-thawed semen. In fresh semen, total motile sperm assessed by CASA had significant (p less than 0.05, 01) correlations with rapid progressive motile sperm (r = 0.46), wobbling index (r = 0.52) and dancing frequency (r = -0.43) in fresh semen. In frozen-thawed semen, it was significantly correlated only with linearity (r = 0.46). The rapid progressive motile sperm in both fresh (r = 0.41 to 0.92) and frozen-thawed (r = 044 to 0.88) semen, however, had significant correlations with most of their velocity traits. Further, the average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), wobbling (WOB), beat-cross frequency (BCF), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), and dancing mean (DNM) of sperm showed significant positive or negative interrelationships among each other in both fresh (r = 0.41 to 0.91) as well as post-thawed (r = 0.44 to 0.90) semen. Moreover, the correlations of motility and kinematics parameters of total motile sperm in both fresh and frozen-thawed semen were highly significant with velocity/kinematics traits of only progressively motile sperm, and the velocity traits among only motile sperm were highly significantly interrelated in both fresh (r = 0.46 to 0.98) and frozen-thawed (r = 0.43 to 0.93) semen of Girbulls, though the magnitudes of correlations were lower in frozen-thawed semen as compared to fresh semen. Thus, CASA analysis offresh semen for motility and velocity traits could predict the post-thawed sperm motility and velocity/kinematics of bovine semen.

86 MOTILITY AND VIABILITY OF BULL SEMEN DURING 24 HOURS OF STORAGE AT 4°C

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
M. E. Carini ◽  
R. Cavia ◽  
G. Larraburu ◽  
G. M. Brogliatti
Keyword(s):  
Storage Time ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Bull Semen ◽  
Multiple Comparison Test ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Semen Extender ◽  
One Way Anova ◽  
Velocity Average ◽  
Lateral Head

Currently, cryopreservation process of fresh bull semen is carried out between 3 and 6 hours of refrigeration at 4°C post-collection (Hafez, 1989). However, it is sometimes difficult when the cryopreservation process is not available at the site of collection. The objective of this study was to determine seminal motility and viability in samples maintained at 4°C during 24 hours. A total of 98 ejaculates from 23 adult bulls (Angus, Brangus, Braford and Hereford) were collected and diluted in a semi-defined semen extender (Andromed, Minitüb, Tiefenbach, Germany) and stored at 4°C. Parameters of velocity average path (VAP, µm/s), velocity straight line (VSL, μm/s), amplitude lateral head (ALH, μm), linearity (LIN, %), percentage of rapid cells (RAPID, %), percentage of slow and static cells (SL/ST, %), and viability (VIA, %) were determined by Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA, HTM-ceros 12.1, Berkeley, CA, USA). Measurements were done at 6, 9, 12, and 24 h. The obtained results were analyzed statistically with one-way ANOVA and Dunnet Multiple Comparison Test and are summarized in Table 1. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the VAP, RAPID, or SL/ST during 24 h of storage at 4°C. Measurements were significantly different (P < 0.01) for VSL and VIA at 24 h. Measurements of ALH were increased from 12 h (P < 0.01) and consequently, LIN decreased at the same time (P < 0.01). These results suggest that there are no differences in velocity, except in VSL at the end of the storage time. The type of movement of the spermatozoa change, because ALH increases and the trajectory loses linearity. A decrease in viability suggests that from 24 h of storage, the membrane of the spermatozoa becomes more susceptible. More research needs to be done to evaluate the competence of this time-storage semen in the artificial insemination trial. Table 1. Parameters of motility and viability of semen maintained at 4°C during 24 h This research was supported by Centro Genético Bovino de EOLIA S.A.

scholarly journals Seasonal variations in quantitative and qualitative sperm characteristics in fertile and subfertile stallions

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yara Suliman ◽  
Frank Becker ◽  
Armin Tuchscherer ◽  
Klaus Wimmers
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Normal Sperm ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Significant Seasonal Variation

Abstract. Horses are seasonal breeders with a natural breeding season beginning in spring and extending through midsummer. In this study, quantitative and qualitative parameters of chilled stallion semen were compared between fertile and subfertile stallions and between the breeding and the non-breeding season. Semen quality parameters compared included ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, sperm morphology, and computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA)-derived sperm movement characteristics obtained from two groups of warmblood stallions (n=8; four fertile stallions and four subfertile stallions), which differ in the seasonal pregnancy rate 80 %–90 % (fertile) vs. 40 %–60 % (subfertile). A total of 64 ejaculates were collected from the stallions (n=8; four in the breeding season and four in the non-breeding season of each stallion). No significant differences in the semen quality parameters between the fertile and the subfertile stallions in the non-breeding season were observed. However, in the breeding season the proportion of morphologically normal sperm, total motility, progressive motility, average path velocity (VAP), and curvilinear velocity (VCL) were significantly higher in the fertile group (P<0.05) when compared with the subfertile group. In addition, a significant seasonal variation in the proportion of morphological normal sperm was found in the fertile group between the breeding and the non-breeding season (P<0.05). Moreover, significant seasonal variations (P<0.05) in CASA parameters of mean VAP, straight line velocity (VSL), and beat-cross frequency (BCF) were observed in the fertile and the subfertile stallions, which tended to be lower in the non-breeding season. In conclusion, differences between the fertile and the subfertile stallions were observed only in the breeding season, and a few of CASA-derived parameters seemed to be significantly lower during the non-breeding season in both the fertile and the subfertile stallions.

Melatonin along with eCG improves fresh semen quality and plasma concentrations of melatonin and testosterone during non-breeding season in Beetal bucks

2021 ◽  
pp. 106569
Author(s):  
Mustansar Abbas ◽  
Muhammad Irfan-ur-Rehman Khan ◽  
Nasir Hameed ◽  
Abdul Rehman ◽  
Imran Mohsin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Fresh Semen

Computer assisted sperm analysis of fresh and frozen-thawed buffalo semen and their interrelationship

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Patel ◽  
A. J. Dhami
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Head Displacement ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Buffalo Semen ◽  
Live Sperm ◽  
Fresh Semen

Sixty semen ejaculates from 10 mature bulls, 5 each of Jafarabadi and Mehsana breed, were studied for sperm motility and velocity parameters of fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa using computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA). The mean values of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa observed in fresh semen of Jafarabadi and Mehsana bulls (79.77±1.62 and 61.80±1.85, and 78.90±1.22 and 61.37±1.58%) were highly significantly (P<0.01) reduced (51.20±1.57 and 33.20±1.45, and 52.10±1.70 and 34.30±1.54 %, respectively) in post-thawed semen. The average path velocity, straight line velocity and curvilinear velocity (μm/sec) of spermatozoa of Jafarabadi and Mehsana bulls noted in fresh semen were also reduced highly significantly (P<0.01) in frozen-thawed semen. Among the other velocity parameters, amplitude of lateral head displacement (μm), elongation (%) and medium motile sperm (%) increased, while beat-cross frequency (Hz), straightness (%), linearity (%), sperm area (μm<sup>2</sup>) and rapidly motile sperm (%) decreased significantly in post-thawed sperms when compared with the fresh sperm of both Jafarabadi and Mehsana bulls. The initial motility and live sperm per cent were significantly correlated with CASA traits of fresh and frozen-thawed semen, and all the sperm motility and velocity traits of fresh and frozen-thawed semen assessed by CASA were significantly interrelated among both the breeds. The interrelationships were stronger in Mehsana bulls as compared to Jafarabadi bulls.

scholarly journals Fresh semen characteristics in captive accipitrid and falconid birds of prey

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300
Author(s):  
Vladimír Piaček ◽  
Jan Zukal ◽  
Veronika Seidlová ◽  
Tomáš Heger ◽  
Monika Němcová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Birds Of Prey ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technique ◽  
Peregrine Falcons ◽  
Semen Characteristics ◽  
Northern Goshawks ◽  
Fresh Semen

Artificial insemination (AI) is the most frequently used assisted reproductive technique for captive propagation of rare avian species. As semen quality is critical for reproductive success, baseline data are needed for evaluating and selecting the best male bird donors. To this end, we used computer-assisted semen analysis to assess male eastern imperial eagles (n = 7), northern goshawks (n = 24) and peregrine falcons (n = 20). While imperial eagles and northern goshawks donate ejaculate voluntarily, peregrine falcons required cloacal massage. Eight peregrine falcon females were inseminated with semen from eight males, with fresh ejaculates (15 to 50 µl) applied to the pars uterina of the oviduct immediately after collection and examination. All females were inseminated within 2 h of laying an egg. A fertilization rate of 70% was achieved using this method. Minimum semen characteristics associated with egg fertilization included a semen concentration of 115.12 × 106/ml, 33.52% total motility, 1.92% spermatozoa with progressive motility and 0.17% with rapid motility. Comparative data on spermatozoa concentration and kinematics suggest that eastern imperial eagles concentrate on high quality semen investment at the start of the breeding season, northern goshawks compensate for a decrease in motility-associated parameters with increased semen concentration and peregrine falcons maintain semen production standards throughout the breeding season. Our data show that, in birds of prey, levels of egg fertilization following AI with fresh semen can be almost as successful as after natural mating.

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