title: Evaluation of two seminal collection regimens for mature Holstein bulls.
abstract: Twenty mature Holstein bulls (3 to 10 yr old) were used to test the effect of two semen collection regimens on spermatozoal output, post-thaw percentage spermatozoal motility, and time needed to make the collections/week. For both regimens, six ejaculates/wk were collected using either three ejaculates/d, 2 d/wk, or two ejaculates/d, 3 d/wk. A three-period switchback experimental design was used. Each collection period for which measurements were taken was 3 wk and was preceded by a 2 wk period of acclimation. The total number of spermatozoa harvested per week was not significantly different (P greater than .05): 33.2 X 10(9) when the bulls were collected two ejaculates 3 d/wk, compared with 33.9 X 10(9) three ejaculates 2 d/wk. Post-thaw progressive spermatozoal motility was 50.3 and 52.1% (P greater than .05), respectively. The average time per week to collect each bull was 73.6 and 83.7 min (P less than .05), respectively.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*