title: The breed and season effects on scrotal circumference and semen characteristics of hair sheep rams under tropical conditions.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the breed and season effects on scrotal circumference (SC) and semen characteristics of 28 mature hair sheep rams kept under tropical conditions. SCs, sperm concentration (SPC) and abnormal sperm were significantly affected by breed effect (p < 0.001). The season effect was significant in SPC (p < 0.0001) while ejaculate volume, mass motility and SPC were affected by breed × season interaction effect (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the magnitude of the breed and season effects were not sufficient to affect the reproductive capacity of hair sheep rams throughout the year.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cárdenas-Gallegos
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Aké-López
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Centurión-Castro
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Magaña-Monforte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*