EFFECT OF SEASONAL VARIATION ON PHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LOCAL HAMDNI RAMS SEMEN IN ERBIL REGION

Abstract

Five Hamdani rams weighting56-64 kg have been included in this experiment. A total of 120 semen samples were collected. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effect of seasonal variations on the physical properties of the semen, including volume, color, mass motility, individual motility, and percentage of dead and live sperm, percentage of sperm abnormality percentage and sperm concentration and pH of seminal plasma. Biochemical properties of seminal plasma they are transaminases enzymes AST, ALT, alkaline phosphate enzyme (ALP) total protein , albumin, globulins and total cholesterol. Result show a significant effect (P< 0.01) of the seasonal variation on the physical and biochemical properties of seminal were also determined. Increased ejaculate volume and change in colour to creamy were recorded higher motility of mass and individual sperms in summer season were recorded, while increase number of dead and abnormal sperms were recorded in winter, sperm concentration/ml. increased (P<0.01) in summer and spring in comparism with other three seasons. Concerning the biochemical properties, the result showed that there was increased (P<0.01) activity of AST enzyme in winter, while no effect of the seasons on the activity the ALT enzyme. The ALP, total protein and globulins were significantly (P<0.01) increased in summer, while albumin was increased (P<0.01) in autumn and winter. The total cholesterol concentration decreased (P<0.01) in summer. These results indicated were that the best season for breeding Hamdani ram summer season.