The objectives were to evaluate the effects of sire and content of fresh or ionised egg yolk in extenders on sperm motility and share of live and dead sperm in collected ejaculate, in thawed artificial insemination (AI) doses, and during thermodynamic testing compared to extenders not containing egg yolk. Ejaculates were collected once a week from 4 Holstein bulls. Each of the 20 ejaculate samples from each bull was diluted with 4 different extenders. AndroMed and Bioxcell (no egg yolk) and Triladyl and Optidyl (fresh, ionised egg yolk) were used. A total of 640 AI doses were analysed. The volume of samples, sperm concentration, and percentage of motile spermatozoa were evaluated after collection, as was sperm motility after thawing of AI doses and during thermodynamic testing. Percentages of live and dead sperm were also evaluated. The data set was analysed using SAS/STAT 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The results confirmed significant (P<0.05-0.01) between-sire differences in the volume, density, and activity of sperm as well as in share of live and dead sperm after collection; in decline of sperm motility in the fresh ejaculate, after thawing, and during the entire thermodynamic test, as well as in the share of live and dead sperm after thawing. The extenders ranked by sperm motility are: Optidyl, Triladyl, AndroMed, and Bioxcell, demonstrating the higher quality of AI doses produced using egg yolk extenders. Differences in sperm motility were significant (P<0.05-0.01) during the entirety of thermodynamic testing. Egg yolk extenders had a significantly (P<0.05-0.01) higher percentages of live sperm after thawing.
The aim of this study is to call attention to the possibility of using ultrasonography as a useful tool for the evaluation of morphological characteristics of the udder and teats in dairy cows in relation to milking characteristics and udder health. A total of 26 dairy cows of the Holstein breed in the first (n = 13) and second lactation (n = 13) were investigated with a linear array ultrasound probe. Recovery of the teat internal parameters after milking was determined by ultrasonographic scanning. Teat canal length, teat canal diameter and teat wall thickness of 103 teats were evaluated from 622 measurements before and directly after milking and every 15 minutes until 1 hour after milking (6 measurements). The most significant differences in internal proportions were determined within those values measured before and immediately after milking. The dynamics of changes in the length of the teat canal demonstrated the extension by 27%. A sudden restoration of the initial length by 11% was detected one hour after milking. Differences in teat canal diameter were significant at P<0.01 between the 1st and 4th measurement. The initial extension was 17% immediately after milking and the restoration about 9% one hour after milking. The wall thickness was strengthened during the 2nd measurement immediately after milking in comparison with the 1st measurement before milking (P<0.01). Significant differences in the wall thickness were detected between the 1st and 2nd measurement (+26%; P<0.01) and between the 2nd and 3rd measurement. The ultrasonographic scanning of the teat parameters was a useful tool to study teat changes caused by milking.
The objectives of this study were to determine and evaluate effect of breed, age and body condition score (BCS) on qualitative and quantitative parameters of bull’s ejaculate. In total, 16 Holstein (H) and 15 Czech Fleckvieh (F) bulls were collected in September 2009 and May 2010. Volume of semen samples, sperm concentration and percentage of motile spermatozoa were evaluated immediately after collecting. Sperm motility was also evaluated after diluting and freezing/thawing of AI doses and subsequently during the short-term test of sperm survival. Percentages of live and pathologic sperm before diluting also were evaluated. The data set was analyzed using a generalized linear model in SAS/STAT software. A statistically significant effect of the breed, age and body condition on qualitative and quantitative traits of bull’s sperm were determined (P < 0.05–0.01). Sperm activity after collection, dilution and freezing/thawing had significantly decreasing character.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of body condition score (BCS) and daily milk yield (DMY) on reproductive characteristics of dairy cows. A total of 1249 records of Czech Fleckvieh cows raised at a private farm in Prague were enrolled. Dairy cows were grouped according to BCS (1 = ≤3.75, 2 = 4-4.25 and 3 = ≥ 4.50) and DMY groups (<20kg, 20-30 kg and >30kg). Number of inseminations per pregnancy (NI), days open (DO), service period (SP) and ovarian cyst (OC) cases were evaluated as reproduction characteristics. While the group with BCS ≥4.50 presented higher DO, the group with BCS ≤ 3.75 had lower OC cases when compared with other BCS groups. The group with DMY ˂20 kg had higher DO but lower OC cases than other DMY groups. Significant correlations were estimated between SP and NI (r = 0.843) or DO (r = 0.256), and between OC and DO (r = 0.546). The results revealed the effects of BCS and DMY on DO and OC and associations of reproduction traits each other. Therefore, close tracking production and reproduction data is suggested as a major process to prevent fertility problems and to obtain high productivity in dairy cows.
The aim of this work was to analyze the growth abilities of bull and heifer calves (n = 190) of the Charolais breed calved in one herd from 2006 to 2011. The evaluation was carried out during the period of calf raising, focusing to the eff ects of sex, parity and the mating method on live birth weight (BLW) and the live weight at 120 (LW120), 210 (LW210) and 365 (LW365) days of life, as well as the average daily weight gain reached by the age of 120 (G120), 210 (G210), and 365 (G365) days. Statistical analysis was carried out with the use of the SAS 9.3 program. The eff ect of sex on the live weight and average daily weight gain was statistically signifi cant on the level of P < 0.01 always in favour of the bull calves (BLW +3.05 kg, LW120 +29.35 kg, LW210 +36.98 kg, and LW365 +117.23 kg). The lowest live birth weight was detected in the calves of primiparous cows (BLW = 45.46 kg; P < 0.01). The higher parity, the higher live birth weight was determined, with maximum values in cows from the fourth calving. The trends were similar in live weight at 120, 210 and 365 days of age, when signifi cance level was P < 0.05. The parity eff ect on the average daily weight gain (G120, G210 a G365) was statistically insignifi cant (P > 0.05). The eff ect of embryo transfer (ET) and other commonly used reproduction methods (insemination and natural mating, AI/PP) was evaluated as well as. The calves born a er embryo transfer showed a signifi cantly (P < 0.01) higher the live birth weight as well as weight at diff erent ages (BLW +5.85 kg, LW120 +18.15 kg, LW210 +22.94 kg and LW365 +35.43 kg), and G120 only (+100 g×day −1 ; P < 0.05). These results pointed the suitability of using the biotechnological reproduction methods, especially in relation to the total weight of the reared and fattened animals.
ABSTRACT:The objective was to determine effects of equilibration length and freezing curve type as well as their interactions on motility and live spermatozoa proportion in bull sperm after thawing. The ejaculates of 6 sires were repeatedly collected. Fresh semen was diluted with one extender and divided into 3 groups equilibrated for 30, 120, and 240 min. Subsequently, half straws of each group were frozen using standard 3-phase or 2-phase freezing curve differing in the rate of temperature decrease. Th e spermatozoa motility (M) was evaluated immediately after thawing and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of thermodynamic test (TDT). Live spermatozoa proportion was evaluated after thawing and at the end of TDT. Average of spermatozoa motility (AM), decrease of spermatozoa motility (MD), average proportion of live spermatozoa (ALS), and decrease of live spermatozoa proportion (DLS) through the TDT were calculated. Significant inter-sire differences in AM (0.45-17.0%; P < 0.05-0.01), MD (0.76-12.57%; P < 0.05-0.01), and ALS (0.99-23.8%; P < 0.01) were detected. The longest equilibration ensured the highest M during TDT and AM (+2.72 and +4.58%; P < 0.05-0.01), however higher MD (+4.06%; P < 0.01) compared to standard length as well. Straws freezed using 2-phase curve achieved higher M through TDT, AM (+7.3%; P < 0.01) as well as ALS (+11.77%; P < 0.01). The 2-phase curve presented higher M compared to the 3-phase freezing curve within all equilibration lengths. Significant differences in AM, MD,; P < 0.05-0.01) between equilibration length vs freezing curve interactions were determined. Results document the importance of equilibration length, freezing curve, and their interaction effect on live spermatozoa proportion and sperm motility after thawing as well as necessity of individual conditions for bulls semen processing and insemination doses production.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.