Sperm productivity of Texel breed rams depending on the period of seasonal activity and mode of use
Abstract
The results of laboratory studies of freshly obtained and deep-frozen semen of Texel breeding rams in the non-mating and mating periods under different modes of using 4, 6, and 8 ejaculates per week are given. It has been proven that during the non-mating period, when receiving four ejaculates per week compared to 6 and 8 ejaculates, the ejaculate volume was 11.3 and 22.6 % higher, respectively. The sperm concentration in it was 5.1 and 12.2 %, sperm activity was higher by 1.7 and 3.2 %, and their resistance by 7.1 and 17.3 percent. In the mating period under the above regimen, the ejaculate volume was 9.9 and 19.7 % higher; sperm concentration was 4.1 and 5.9 % higher; sperm activity was higher by 5.7 and 8.3 %, resistance was higher by 7 .7 and 19.9 percent. Higher quality indicators were found in the mode of obtaining four ejaculates after sperm cryopreservation in both research periods, on average, according to the activity of deconserved sperm by 3.2 and 8.0 and 5.8 and 11.2 %, freezing resistance by 0.7 and 2,0 and 2.6 and 4.6 %, survival by 7.6 and 15.5 and 2.2 and 10.6%, absolute survival rate by 3.4 and 8.1 and 4.7 and 8.5 percent Based on the analysis of the investigated indicators of freshly obtained and de-preserved sperm, it was experimentally confirmed that in the mating period compared to the non-mating period, they were significantly higher on average in freshly obtained sperm from 7.7 to 40.1 %, in cryopreserved sperm – from 2.9 to 16.7 percent. The preservation of acrosomes of sperm in the non-mating and mating period, when receiving four ejaculates per week compared to receiving 6 and 8, was higher by periods by 3.5 and 6.0 %, and 2.5 and 5 %, respectively. The studies established significantly higher quantitative and qualitative indicators of freshly collected and deconserved sperm in both seasonal activity periods under the regime of obtaining four ejaculates per week from breeding rams. Under this regime, the sperm is biologically complete, and its quality indicators meet the requirements of the instructions for the artificial insemination of sheep.
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