Study of seasonal sexual activity variations in Algerian rams: Sexual behaviour, testosterone concentration control and environmental factors

Redha, Benia Ahmed; Taibi,; Ait-Amrane,; Belhamiti,; Hammoudi,; Kaidi,

doi:10.5897/ajb2013.12172

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Our results seem to be in agreement with those of Benia et al . [ 34 ] who found that testosterone concentrations are maximal during spring and autumn months, and that OD rams showed continuous spermatogenetic activity during all seasons. In addition, serum testosterone levels were low during July where the temperature was very high on the day of collection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal influence on sperm parameters, scrotal measurements, and serum testosterone in Ouled Djellal breed rams in Algeria

Belkadi¹,

Safsaf²,

Heleili³

et al. 2017

Vet World

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Aim:This study was conducted to determine the effect of seasonal variations on testosterone serum concentration, body weight, scrotal circumference, and some sperm parameters in rams living in a semi-arid region of eastern part of Algeria.Materials and Methods:Blood samples were taken monthly from eight Ouled Djellal rams, aged between 3 and 4 years, in the Technical Institute of Breeding “ITELV” located at Ain M’lila City. Sperm were collected by an electro-ejaculator once a month for 1 year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter: 3 times/season).Results:Mean values of volume, mass motility, live sperm, and scrotal circumference were higher during spring (p<0.05) with 1.23±0.26 mL, 3.39±1.07, 79.16±15.82%, and 36.29±1.91 cm, respectively; whereas, the sperm concentration was higher during autumn with 1.19±0.56×109 spz/ml compared to 0.46±0.13×109 spz/mL to spring. The season influenced significantly the percentage of abnormal sperm (p<0.05), especially during winter (6.47±2.12%), but had no influence on the weight of rams. Seasonal hormonal activity was high with 4.89±2.06 ng/mL and 3.09±1.35 ng/mL of testosterone in mating seasons (spring and autumn, respectively), knowing that the sexual season is not marked too much in these latitude.Conclusion:We can conclude that testosterone concentration is strongly correlated with the scrotal circumference and that the season has a significant influence on spermatic parameters, and that despite the large variations in sperm production, the rams can be used throughout the year.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal influence on sperm parameters, scrotal measurements, and serum testosterone in Ouled Djellal breed rams in Algeria

Belkadi¹,

Safsaf²,

Heleili³

et al. 2017

Vet World

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“…In addition, the time to achieve the first ejaculation was shorter. Seasonal variation in ejaculate latency occurs in Algerian rams (Benia et al., ), and Rekik et al. () reported that melatonin treatment increased total activity time and number of lateral approaches in a sexual behaviour test.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended day length in late winter/early spring, with a return to natural day length of shorter duration, increased plasma testosterone and sexual performance in rams with or without melatonin implants

Abecia

Chemineau

Keller

et al. 2017

Reprod Domestic Animals

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Sixteen rams were used to quantify the effects of long days, imposed during late winter/early spring, with or without exogenous melatonin, on plasma testosterone concentrations and ram serving capacity. Rams were assigned to two groups: photoperiod-treated rams (Artificial Photoperiod, AP; n = 8), exposed to 2 months of long days (16 hr of light/day) between 22 December and 22 February, and control rams (Natural Photoperiod, NP; n = 8). At the end of the long-day period, AP rams were returned to the natural photoperiod, and each ram in the two groups either did (+M) or did not (-M) receive three subcutaneous melatonin implants. Four groups were created as follows: AP+M (n = 4), AP-M (n = 4), NP+M (n = 4) and NP-M (n = 4). Thirty days after of the onset of photoperiodic treatment, AP rams (13.5 ± 2.8 ng/ml) had significantly (p < .05) lower testosterone levels than NP rams (36.7 ± 1.0), and similar differences were not apparent at the end of the photoperiod treatment. A month later, AP rams (24.3 ± 7.9) had higher (p < .10) testosterone levels than NP rams (13.1 ± 5.0), with no effect of melatonin treatment. Fifty days after melatonin implantations, rams were exposed for 20 min to three oestrous ewes. AP rams (2.50 ± 0.42) exhibited significantly (p < .05) more serves than did NP rams (1.11 ± 0.39), and melatonin treatment had no significant effect; however, the interaction between treatments was significant. Time to first serve was significantly (p < .05) shorter in AP (2.30 ± 1.20 min) than it was in NP rams (5.58 ± 0.68 min). In conclusion, exposure to 2 months of long days in late winter/early spring, with a return to natural day length of shorter duration, increased plasma testosterone concentrations and sexual performance in rams with or without exogenous melatonin. This particular management is an option if a non-hormonal reproductive strategy is scheduled; yet, if the use of exogenous hormones is feasible, melatonin implants increase the mating efficiency of rams.

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“…Hallap, Jaakma 19 reported a high percentage of spermatozoa with standard head and tail morphology in Estonian Holstein bulls. In general, scrotal circumference, as the most accessible measure of a bull's ability to produce adequate spermatozoa, correlates positively with testicular volume and semen quality 20 and negatively with the occurrence of spermatozoa defects 21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissecting the relationship between artificial insemination success and bull semen quality in the arid region of Tiaret (Algeria)

Taïbi

Abderrahim

Boussaid

et al. 2022

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Despite being subject to prior assortment, frozen bull sperms commercialized for artificial insemination may present certain morphological defects. The present study aims (i) to assess the artificial insemination success of the most common cattle breeds in Algeria and (ii) to evaluate the possible effects of commercialized bull’s semen quality on this operation. Artificial insemination was assessed through four years of field monitoring by inseminating different cattle breeds of normal fertility. However, semen quality was evaluated using light microscopy by measuring viability, motility, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa. Field study revealed a high percentage of normal calving in red and white Holstein breed (44.83 %) against the high percentage of embryonic mortality (46.43 %) and calving with a malformation (10.71 %) in Montbéliarde breed. Semen quality assessment revealed that sperm viability and motility were higher in Holstein breeds than in Montbéliarde. Furthermore, significant differences between semen bulls were found in the proportion of abnormal spermatozoa; a higher rate of sperms with the abnormal head was observed in the black and white Holstein breed (69.3±10.98 %). However, the percentage of abnormal sperms with tail defects was higher in the Montbéliarde breed (67.5±10.74 %). The lousy quality of the selected semen and/or the poor handling and storage of frozen semen constitute a determinant factor that hinders the success of artificial insemination in the arid region of Tiaret (Algeria).

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Study of seasonal sexual activity variations in Algerian rams: Sexual behaviour, testosterone concentration control and environmental factors

Cited by 12 publications

References 9 publications

Seasonal influence on sperm parameters, scrotal measurements, and serum testosterone in Ouled Djellal breed rams in Algeria

Seasonal influence on sperm parameters, scrotal measurements, and serum testosterone in Ouled Djellal breed rams in Algeria

Extended day length in late winter/early spring, with a return to natural day length of shorter duration, increased plasma testosterone and sexual performance in rams with or without melatonin implants

Dissecting the relationship between artificial insemination success and bull semen quality in the arid region of Tiaret (Algeria)

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