title: The proportion of beef bulls in western Canada with mature spermiograms at 11 to 15 months of age.
abstract: A study was conducted to determine the proportion of yearling beef bulls that have mature spermiograms at 11 to 15 months of age, and to evaluate the relationship between semen quality traits, age, and scrotal circumference. Semen samples and data on sperm motility and scrotal circumference measurements were obtained from 1641 bulls of 14 breeds. Criteria for a satisfactory spermiogram included sperm concentration > or = 400 x 10(6)/mL, > or = 60% progressively motile sperm, and > or = 70% morphologically normal sperm. The mean scrotal circumference measurements for all bulls combined were 33.4, 34.4, 35.2, 35.8, and 35.3 cm at 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 months of age, respectively. The percentage of bulls with matures spermiograms at 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 months of age were 20%, 30%, 51%, 52%, and 61%, respectively. There was a high positive correlation (r = 0.9) between the number of bulls with > or = 70% normal sperm and scrotal circumference measurement. The main types of morphologic defects observed in immature bulls were proximal droplets and midpiece defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herd Medicine and Theriogenology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baracaldo
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology