Influence of Farming System on the Quality of Frozen Ram Semen Evaluated by the CASA System
Keywords:
motility, progressive motility, sperm abnormalitiesAbstract
In the current context of the implementation of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the livestock sector, animal exploitation systems are analysed not only from the point of view of sustainability, but also of productive and reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of frozen semen from rams exploited in two different systems: permanent housing and grazing. Semen was collected from four rams (two in housing and two on pasture), and the quality of sperm after thawing was analysed using the CASA system. The results revealed significant differences between the frozen semen from rams maintained in the two exploitation systems, an important role, having environmental factors, nutrition and activity level that influence reproductive function. Statistical analysis of semen parameters revealed that rams exploited in stables presented significantly higher values of normal morphology compared to those raised on pastures (p=0.0015). Frozen sperm from rams exploited on pastures recorded significantly higher values of motility (p=0.0046) with an average of 10 ejaculates of 39.35% compared to 30.56% in the case of rams exploited in stables and increased nutrition, grazing system, characterized by a level of sperm motor variation, can favour the occurrence of certain morphological anomalies.
References
Ben Moula A., Kchikich A, Chentouf M, Hamdache A, Bouraada K, Essafi M, Ezziyyani M, Climate change impacts on sheep and goat production and reproduction, Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.4.4335
Rodriguez JND, Guimarães JD, Fonseca JF, Penitente-Filho JM, Rangel PSC, López CJR, Freitas RS, de Castilho EF, Rodrigues LFS, Oliveira MEF, Garcia AR, Climatic seasons and time of the day influence thermoregulation and testicular hemodynamics in Santa Inês rams raised under humid tropical conditions, Journal of Thermal Biology, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103546
Gerber, P., Vellinga, T., Opio, C., & Steinfeld, H. Productivity gains and greenhouse gas emissions intensity in dairy systems, Livestock science, 2011, 139(1-2), 100-108.
Food and Agriculture Organization, Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock, 2013, https://www.fao.org/4/i3437e/i3437e.pdf
Peter J. Hansen. Effects of heat stress on mammalian reproduction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2009, 364(1534), 3341–3350. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0131
. Aitken RJ, Baker MA, Oxidative stress and male reproductive biology. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 2004, 16(5), 581–588. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD03094
Delgadillo JA, Ungerfeld R, Flores JA, Véliz F G, The reproductive physiology of male sheep and goats: Environmental and management effects. Animal Reproduction Science, 2015, 162, 1–10
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.09.001
Chemineau P, Malpaux B, Brillard JP, Fostier A, Seasonality of reproduction and production in farm fishes, birds and mammals. Animal, 2008, 2(3), 419–432, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731107001444
Marai MRA, El-Darawany AA, Fadiel A, Abdel-Hafez MAM, Reproductive performance traits as affected by heat stress and its alleviation in sheep. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 2008, 8(3), 209–234.
Ben Moula A, Feki M, Rekik M, Hammami H, Seasonal variations in semen quality of Sicilo-Sarde rams. Animal Reproduction Science, 2013, 139(1–4), 99–106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2013.03.005
Martí JI, Aparicio IM, Leal CLV, García-Herreros M, Seasonal dynamics of sperm morphometric subpopulations and its association with sperm quality parameters in ram ejaculates, Theriogenology, 2012, 78(3), 528-541,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.02.035
Maquivar MG., Smith SM, Busboom JR, Reproductive Management of Rams and Ram Lambs during the Pre-Breeding Season in US Sheep Farms. Animals, 2021, 11(9), 2503,
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092503
Salamon S, Maxwell WMC, Storage of ram semen. Animal Reproduction Science, 2000, 62, 77–111, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00155-X
Watson PF, The causes of reduced fertility with cryopreserved semen. Animal Reproduction Science, 2000,60–61,481–492, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00099-3
Soylu MK, Nur Z, Ustuner B, Dogan I, Sagirkaya H, Gunay U, Ak, K, Effects of various cryoprotective agents and extender osmolality on post-thawed ram semen. Bulletin-Veterinary Institute In Pulawy, 2007, 51(2), 241,
Kubovičová E, Makarevich AV, Špaleková E, Hegedušová Z, Motility and fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed ram sperm from two sheep breeds, Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 2011, 44 (4):134-139,
Van de Hoek M, Rickard JP, de Graaf SP. Motility Assessment of Ram Spermatozoa. Biology. 2022,11(12):1715,https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121715
