Seasonal Variation in Scrotal Circumference and Semen Characteristics of Black Bedouin and Black Bedouin-Damascus Crossbred Bucks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate monthly variation in semen characteristics in Black Bedouin and Black Bedouin×Damascus crossbred bucks. Twenty one Black Bedouin Goat bucks (BG) and 20 F 1 Black Bedouin×Damascus crossbred goat bucks (CB) were used in the study. Animals were 2 to 5 years old at the beginning of the study. Body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), scrotal circumference (SC) and semen samples were evaluated monthly for all bucks. Body weight, BCS and SC differed according to month of collection (p<0.0001). Body weight and BCS were greater in the spring and summer months while SC reached their highest values during the autumn months. No differences were detected between breeds with respect to semen characteristics with the exception of ejaculate volume (p<0.05) and ejaculate appearance (p = 0.053) which were greater in CB than in BG bucks. With the exception of ejaculate appearance, all semen characteristics were influenced by month of collection (p<0.05). Semen concentration and motility were better during the late summer and autumn months than during the spring. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa declined from its greatest values in the spring to its lowest values in the autumn. Results of the present study show no effects of goat breed on most of the studied parameters. In general, most semen quality parameters were better in both breeds during the autumn than the spring months. Minimal variation in semen quality was observed between the summer and autumn months indicating the ability to use bucks for semen collection and for natural breeding during both of these seasons.

Effect of Bioxcell® and Triladyl® Extenders and Removal of Seminal Plasma on Equilibrated and Cryopreserved Semen from South African Unimproved Indigenous Bucks

“…The percentage of spermatozoa high mitochondrial membrane potential of non-washed and washed semen samples extended with Bioxcell ® were significantly lower (P<0.05) than the non-washed and washed semen samples extended with Triladyl ® . There was a high percentage of abnormal spermatozoa in the current study, which concur with what [27] and [28] reported during spring season.…”

Phenotypic Characterisation of South African Unimproved Indigenous and Tankwa Goats

“…Both South African unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats used in this study were lighter when compared to Black Bedouin and Black Bedouin X Damascus males (63.2±5.0 and 60.4±7.1 kg, respectively) used in the previous study (Mellado et al, 2012). That might be due to breed differences and feeding regime as in Mellado et al (2012) study a commercial diet was used to feed the experimental animals (Kridli et al, 2007), whereas in the current study they were grazing on natural pasture. However, some of the body measurements of South African unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats' evaluated in the current study fall within the literature estimates from tropical and subtropical breeds (Nsoso et al, 2004).…”

“…The age of mature males at the Agricultural Research Council aligns well with Pezzanite et al (2015), who indicated that the optimal breeding age of male goats ranges from 6 months to 4 years. Moreover, the age range of the goats at Agricultural Research Council seems to be a standard range that the intensive famers or research institutes are keeping (Kridli et al, 2007).…”

Exogenous oxytocin administration improves the testicular blood flow in rams

“…Practitioners used to conduct a general physical examination, scrotal circumference estimation and semen analysis to determine the reproductive soundness in male farm animals (Karaca et al., 2016; Kridli et al., 2007). Recently, the application of pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonography has become a useful noninvasive practice to assess the reproductive performance in male animals through the analysis of the blood flow dynamics within the testicular artery (Hedia & El‐Belely, 2021; Samir et al., 2015; Velasco & Ruiz, 2021).…”