Semen Quality Characteristics of Dairy Goats

Abstract

Semen was collected, processed, and frozen from five dairy bucks for 2 successive yr for use in quality classification and evaluation for inclusion in artificial insemination programs. Semen was evaluated for volume, initial, postthaw and 37 degrees C incubated percent progressive motility, percent postthaw 3-h 37 degrees C incubated intact acrosomes, autoagglutination, whey-induced agglutination, and percent primary, secondary, and tertiary abnormalities. Significant high correlations were found between: percent progressive motility and percent intact acrosomes, percent intact acrosomes and percent autoagglutination, and percent autoagglutination and percent whey agglutination. Means of the postthaw quality parameters, percent progressive motility, percent intact acrosomes, and percent primary and secondary abnormalities were used to categorize ejaculates within each incubation time (0 and 2 h). At 0 h, 25 ejaculates were classified as high quality and 11 were low quality. Using 2-h data, 19 ejaculates were classified as high quality and 17 as low. Inclusion of both agglutination parameters in the 2-h data analysis resulted in 13 ejaculates categorized as high and 23 as low quality. Based on assessment with techniques used in bovine artificial insemination programs, semen quality of goat semen could be used to discriminate between acceptable or unacceptable ejaculates. Based on recommended sperm numbers per inseminate and average ejaculate characteristics the low number of marketable units per ejaculate would make incorporation of goats into existing artificial insemination programs prohibitive.

Sperm characterization and identification of sperm sub-populations in ejaculates from pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

“…Abnormalities have also been related in humans with elevated creatine kinase in sperm (Durutovic et al, 2013) an enzyme that increases serum concentration in pampas deer during the process of electroejaculation (Fumagalli et al, 2012). Large percentages of residual cytoplasm have been associated with decreased fertility rates in other species (Chandler et al, 1988;Keating et al, 1997). The excess of residual cytoplasm suggests that these sperm are still immature, and as a consequence could be dysfunctional (Keating et al, 1997).…”

Recent advances in bird sperm morphometric analysis and its role in male gamete characterization and reproduction technologies

“…In each case, the most appropriate staining and sampling techniques have been established 7273. CASA-Morph systems are now commonly used to examine mammalian spermatozoa,74 and the head morphometry results they provide have been used to predict fertilization rates75767778 and sperm cryodamage 252679. However, they have been little used with avian semen, a consequence of the filiform shape of bird spermatozoa.…”

Morphometric characteristics and chromatin integrity of spermatozoa in three Italian dog breeds

“…Abnormalities in shape and size of spermatozoa are known to be associated with clinical infertility and to influence in vitro fertilisation results in man (Kruger and others 1988). Similarly, abnormal spermatozoa morphology was also shown to be a reliable indicator of decreased fertility in dogs (Mickelsen and others 1993), horses (Held and others 1991), cows (Sekoni and Gustafsson 1987), pigs (Hannock 1959) and goats (Chandler and others 1988).…”