ABSTRACT:
Semen was collected by electroejaculation from seven mature Muturu bulls at weekly intervals for 9 weeks in each of three seasons (‘Dry’, ‘Rainy’, and ‘Late Rainy/Early Dry’) to study the effect of season on semen characteristics. The respective mean values for the ‘Dry’, ‘Rainy’ and ‘Late Rainy/Early Dry’ seasons were: volume 1.8 ± 0.1, 2.3 ± 0.1 and 2.0 ± 0.1 ml; percentage motility 36.2 ± 2.6, 37.7 ± 2.8 and 27.5±2.9; and percent morphologically normal sperm 70.0 ± 3.1, 79.1 ± 2.6 and 79.8 ± 2.3. No seasonal differences were found for sperm concentration/ml (overall mean 1.92 ± 0.16 × 108) and for sperm output/ejaculate (overall mean 4.14 ± 0.39 × 108). The chemical composition of seminal plasma (mg %) for the respective seasons was calcium: 4.8 ± 1.0, 7.9 ± 0.9 and 2.5 ± 0.7; magnesium: 4.8 ± 0.4, 4.3 ± 0.7 and 2.5 ± 0.7; and chloride: 330.7 ± 33.7, 136.0 ± 9.6 and 344.3 ± 31.8. No seasonal differences were found in sodium or potassium concentrations. Fructose was found in the semen of only one bull and only during the ‘Dry’ season.
Animal Reproduction Science 07/1987; 14(1):31-38. DOI:10.1016/0378-4320(87)90074-1