Relationship of frozen-thawed semen quality with the fertility rate after being distributed in the Brahman Cross Breeding Program

Abstract

Background and Aim: Various factors can reduce the quality of semen used for artificial insemination and have an impact on fertility decline, such as poor handling during frozen semen distribution. This study was aimed at assessing the quality of frozen-thawed semen after distribution in the field and its importance in maintaining fertility. Materials and Methods: The Brahman Cross (BX) breeding program of PT Lembu Jantan Perkasa, Indonesia, was used. This program was preferred due to its adherence to guidelines that limit the effects of extraneous factors that may affect semen quality. Frozen-thawed semen samples from eight bulls with the same production code were analyzed and compared between the production site (artificial insemination [AI] center) and the field (BX breeding program). Total and progressive motility (PM) of sperm were determined using computer-assisted semen analysis. Plasma membrane integrity (PMI) was assessed using hypoosmotic swelling test, sperm viability using Eosin-Nigrosin staining, acrosome integrity using trypan blue-Giemsa staining, morphological abnormalities using William staining, and DNA fragmentation using toluidine blue staining. The fertility rate was determined using the conception rate (%) derived from AI data based on 502 AI services and 478 cows in the BX breeding program. A t-test was used to compare the quality of frozen-thawed semen before and after distribution. The relationship between the qualities of frozen semen after distribution in the field with fertility was analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the quality of frozen-thawed semen (sperm motility, PMI, viability, acrosome integrity, abnormalities, and DNA fragmentation) between the production site (AI center) and after distribution in the field (BX breeding program). The semen met the minimum standards for AI programs. Total motility (r=0.986), PM (r=0.961), sperm viability (r=0.971), PMI (r=0.986), and acrosome integrity (r=0.992) were all positively correlated (p<0.05) with fertility rate; while sperm abnormalities (r=-0.996) and sperm DNA fragmentation (r=0.975) were negatively correlated (p<0.05) with fertility rate. Conclusion: The study showed that to achieve the maximal and optimal fertility rate in bulls in an AI program, the overall quality of frozen-thawed semen in all aspects is critical. This can be achieved if the handling during distribution and storage, as well as the various factors that may affect the quality of semen in the field, can be controlled properly.

The potential of sperm bovine protamine as a protein marker of semen production and quality at the National Artificial Insemination Center of Indonesia

“…Living sperm have a suitable membrane; thus, the eosin-nigrosin dye does not enter these cells. In contrast, dead sperm has a damaged and leaky membrane that is nonfunctional, which causes the dye to penetrate the cells, and the color of the head becomes purple-red [26]. In this study, the concentration of PRM1 in sperm affected the quality of the sperm membrane (p<0.05; p<0.01) in all bull breeds.…”

“…Decreased expression or deficiency of PRM, which causes increased DNA damage, has been reported in many species, such as mice [17], boars [19,45], canines [46], humans [18], and bovine [1,21,47]. Dogan et al [1] and Pardede et al [26] stated that DNA fragmentation would decrease fertility, as observed in the low conception rate in cows inseminated with sperm with this type of damage.…”

“…Garner and Hafez [39] stated that motility is one of the parameters of sperm quality that is crucial for sperm to pass through the cervix; even PM helps sperm penetrate the cumulus oophorous and the pellucid zone. Pardede et al [26] also added that the PM of sperm is very closely correlated with the conception rate of cows. In this study, overall, the PM of the sperm from all bulls met these requirements, that is, it was above 40% (Figure -3).…”

“…A smear of the sample was dried using a heating table and then observed under a light microscope at 40×. A total of 200 sperm cells were observed and counted; the dead sperm were stained red, and the living sperm were not colored (transparent) [26].…”

Genetic parameters of semen quality traits and genetic correlations with service sire nonreturn rate in Nordic Holstein bulls

“…Similarly, a phenotypic level study using crossbred Indonesian bulls showed significant relationships between male fertility measured as conception rate and postcryopreservation sperm viability and motility (Pardede et al, 2020). Moreover, because ejaculates with low semen quality measures are not used for insemination, the NRR data are left-censored in relation to the semen quality traits, and hence the genetic and phenotypic correlation estimates in this study might underestimate the true correlations between these traits.…”