title: Effect of age and season on semen quality parameters in Sahiwal bulls.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of season, period, age, bull, and ejaculate on semen quality in Sahiwal bulls. Semen production records from 1996 to 2006 of 5,483 ejaculates from 46 Sahiwal bulls maintained at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal, India were analyzed using least square analysis of variance by LSML software package. The overall least squares means of ejaculate volume (VOL), total volume per day (VOLD), mass activity (MA), initial motility (IM), sperm concentration per ml (SPC), and sperm concentration per ejaculate (SPCE) were 3.79 ± 0.02 ml, 5.81 ± 0.06 ml, 2.32 ± 0.01, 55.47 ± 0.001%, 766.69 ± 5.50 × 10(6)/ml and 3023.25 ± 30.15 × 10(6), respectively. All semen traits (VOL, VOLD, MA, IM and SPCE) were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by age groups, season and period, whereas season had significant effect on VOL at 5% level. During hot-humid season, highest value of VOL, VOLD, MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE were observed followed by summer and cold season. Highest value of VOL, VOLD, IM, and SPCE were observed during period-3 (2004-2006), whereas highest value of MA and SPC were observed during period-1 (1996-1999). However, lowest magnitude of MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE during period-2 (2000-2003) was observed. Ejaculate characteristics like VOL, VOLD, and SPCE increased with the increasing age of bull up to 5 years and then decreased. Significant (P < 0.01) bull to bull variation was found in VOL, VOLD, MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE traits. First ejaculate had significantly (P < 0.01) higher MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE. Hence, it could be concluded that during rainy season and period-1 and period-3 the quality of semen is quantitatively and qualitatively good. Better quality semen was obtained up to 5 years of age in Sahiwal bulls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalya Evam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, 281 001, Uttar Pradesh, India. bhakat.mukesh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhakat
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature