The Number of False Mounting Affects The Quality of Semen in Bulls

Bulls in Artificial Insemination (AI) Centres are generally trained with false mounting (FM) activity in order to improve the quality of semen. 360 ejaculates were collected via artificial vagina from twelve bulls. The bulls were subjected to each group according to the number of FM activity (FM- 0, FM- 1, and FM- 2). After the initial examination, samples were diluted and were frozen using a digital freezing machine. Post-thaw quality of sperm was assessed by using a computer assisted sperm analyzer and a photometer. Significant differences were obtained among the FM groups regarding the volume and concentration (P< 0.001). The highest concentration was obtained in FM- 2 group as 1326.7 ± 365.07 × 106 sperm/mL (P< 0.001) and the number of straws produced per ejaculate was highest in FM- 2 group (P< 0.05). Individual responses of the bulls to FM activity have revealed that, in general, double FM resulted in improved post-thaw motility and therefore the freezability (P< 0.001). In conclusion, in this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the number of FM and sperm quality, double FM is a practical method for increasing the sperm output and post-thaw motility of the insemination doses produced in AI Centres.

The number of false mounting affects the quality of semen in bulls

Bulls in Artificial Insemination (AI) Centres are generally trained with false mounting (FM) activity in order to improve the quality of semen. 360 ejaculates were collected via artificial vagina from twelve bulls. The bulls were subjected to each group according to the number of FM activity (FM- 0, FM- 1, and FM- 2). After the initial examination, samples were diluted and were frozen using a digital freezing machine. Post-thaw quality of sperm was assessed by using a computer assisted sperm analyzer and a photometer. Significant differences were obtained among the FM groups regarding the volume and concentration (P< 0.001). The highest concentration was obtained in FM- 2 group as 1326.7 ± 365.07 × 106 sperm/ mL (P< 0.001) and the number of straws produced per ejaculate was highest in FM- 2 group (P< 0.05). Individual responses of the bulls to FM activity have revealed that, in general, double FM resulted in improved post-thaw motility and therefore the freezability (P< 0.001). In conclusion, in this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the number of FM and sperm quality, double FM is a practical method for increasing the sperm output and post-thaw motility of the insemination doses produced in AI Centres.

___

  • 1. Senger PL (2012): Reproductive Behavior. In: Senger PL (editor). Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition. 3rd ed. Current Concepts Inc., Washington State University Research and Technology Park, USA, pp. 240-265.
  • 2. Berndtson WE (2014): Sperm production and its harvest. In: Chenoweth PJ, Lorton SP (editors). Animal Andrology: Theories and Applications. 1st edition Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), Wallingford Connecticut, pp. 11-33.
  • 3. Katz LS, McDonald TJ (1992): Sexual behaviour of farm animals in reproduction in farm animals: Science, application and models. Theriogenology, (38): 240-254. DOI: 10.1002/9781119265306.ch19.
  • 4. Brito LF (2014): Applied Andrology in Cattle (Bos taurus). In: Chenoweth PJ, Lorton SP (editors). Animal Andrology: Theories and Applications. 1st edition Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), Wallingford Connecticut, pp. 297-350.
  • 5. Le Danvic C, Gérard O, Sellem E, Ponsart C, Chemineau P, Humblot P, Nagnan-Le Meillour P (2015): Enhancing bull sexual behavior using estrus-specific molecules identified in cow urine. Theriogenology, 83(9), 1381-1388.
  • 6. Amann RP, Almquist JO (1976): Bull management to maximize sperm output. In: Proceedings of the 6th Technical Conference on Artificial Insemination and Reproduction, 1976; Columbia, Missouri, USA, pp. 1–10.
  • 7. Chenoweth PJ (1983): Examination of bulls for libido and breeding ability. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Large Animal Practice, 5 (1): 59-74. DOI: 10.1016/S0196-9846(17)30092-7
  • 8. Hafs HD, Knisely R C, Desjardins C (1962): Sperm output of dairy bulls with varying degrees of sexual preparation. Journal of Dairy Science, 45 (6): 788-793. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(62)89489-2.
  • 9. Schenk JL (2018): Principles of maximizing bull semen production at genetic centres. Animal, 12 (1): 142-147. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731118000472.
  • 10. Petherick JC (2005): A review of some factors affecting the expression of libido in beef cattle, and individual bull and herd fertility. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 90 (3-4): 185-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.08.021.
  • 11. Almquist JO (1973): Effects of sexual preparation on sperm output, semen characteristics and sexual activity of beef bulls with a comparison to dairy bulls. Journal of Animal Science, 36 (2): 331-336. DOI: 10.2527/jas1973.362331x.
  • 12. Foster J, Almquist JO, Martig RC. Reproductive capacity of beef bulls. IV. Changes in sexual behavior and semen characteristics among successive ejaculations. Journal of Animal Science 1970; 30 (2): 245-252. DOI: 10.2527/jas1970.302245x
  • 13. Hale EB, Almquist JO (1960): Relation of sexual behavior to germ cell output in farm animals. Journal of Dairy Science, 43 (1): 145.
  • 14. Levis DG, Reicks DL (2005): Assessment of sexual behavior and effect of semen collection pen design and sexual stimulation of boars on behavior and sperm output–a review. Theriogenology, 63 (2): 630-642. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.09.037.
  • 15. Sieme H, Katila T, Klug E (2004): Effect of semen collection practices on sperm characteristics before and after storage and on fertility of stallions. Theriogenology, 61 (4): 769-784. DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00251-6.
  • 16. Sharma OP, Hays RL (1973): Release of an oxytocic substance following genital stimulation in bulls. Reproduction, 35 (2): 359-362. DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0350359
  • 17. Berndtson WE, Igboeli G (1988): Spermatogenesis, sperm output and seminal quality of Holstein bulls electroejaculated after administration of oxytocin. Reproduction, 82 (2): 467-475. DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0820467.
  • 18. Kerruish BM (1955): The effect of sexual stimulation prior to service on the behaviour and conception rate of bulls. The British Journal of Animal Behaviour, 3 (4): 125-130. DOI: 10.1016/S0950-5601(55)80049-4.
  • 19. Kommisrud E, Andersen Berg K (1996): The influence of duration of sexual preparation on bovine semen characteristics and fertility rates. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 31 (2): 369-371. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.1996.tb00087.x.
  • 20. Pound N, Javed MH, Ruberto C, Shaikh MA, Del Valle AP (2002): Duration of sexual arousal predicts semen parameters for masturbatory ejaculates. Physiology and Behavior, 76 (4-5): 685-689. DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9384(02)00803-X.
  • 21. Prins GS, Zaneveld LJ (1980): Radiographic study of fluid transport in the rabbit vas deferens during sexual rest and after sexual activity. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, (58): 311–319.
  • 22. Rouge M (2002): Semen Collection from Bulls. Pathophysiology of the Reproductive System, Colorado State University. Accessed June, 2019. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/semeneval/bull.html.
  • 23. Murphy EM, Kelly AK, O’Meara C, Eivers B, Lonergan P, et al. (2018): Influence of bull age, ejaculate number, and season of collection on semen production and sperm motility parameters in Holstein Friesian bulls in a commercial artificial insemination centre. Journal of Animal Science, 96 (6): 2408-2418. DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky130.
  • 24. Sankhi S, Sapkota KR, Regmi B (2019): Effect of age and frequency of collection on quality of Jersey bulls semen at National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), Nepal. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 7 (1): 88-95. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v7i1.23312.
  • 25. Fuerst-Waltl B, Schwarzenbacher H, Perner C, Sölkner J (2006): Effects of age and environmental factors on semen production and semen quality of Austrian Simmental bulls. Animal Reproduction Science, 95 1-2): 27-37. DOI:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.09.002.
  • 26. Olurode, S. A., Sekoni, V. O., Oyenekan, I. O., & Adetomiwa, A. S. (2018): Effect of season on reproduction in west African Dwarf Bucks. Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 39(1), 35-44.
  • 27. Leahy T, Marti JI, Mendoza N, Perez-Pe R, Muino-Blanco T et al.(2010): High pre-freezing dilution improves post-thaw function of ram spermatozoa. Animal Reproduction Science, 119: 137–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2009.12.003.
  • 28. Akçay E, Kulaksız R, Daşkin A, Çebi Ç, Tekin K (2012): The effect of different dilution rates on post-thaw quality of ram semen frozen in two different egg-yolk free extenders. Slovenian Veterinary Research, 49 (2): 97-102.
  • 29. Anand, M, Yadav S, Kumar A, Vaswani S, Shukla P (2018): Effect of Dilution and Sperm Concentration on Post Thaw Semen Quality in Barbari Buck. Journal of Animal Research, 8(4), 587-592.
  • 30. Nascimento J, Raphael CF, Andrade AFC, Celeghini ECC, Arruda RP (2008). Effect of sperm concentration and straw volume on motion characteristics and plasma, acrosomal and mitochondrial membranes of equine. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 28: 351–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2008.04.010.
  • 31. Swelum, AAA, Saadeldin IM, Zaher HA, Alsharifi, SA, Alowaimer AN (2017): Effect of sexual excitation on testosterone and nitric oxide levels of water buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) with different categories of sexual behavior and their correlation with each other. Animal reproduction science, 181, 151-158.
  • 32. Foote RH (1978): Factors influencing the quantity and quality of semen harvested from bulls, rams, boars and stallions, Journal of Animal Science, 47: 1–11.
  • 33. Prastowo S, Widyas N, Ratriyanto A, Kusuma MST, Dharmawan P, Setiawan IA, Bachtiar A (2019): November. Individual Variance Component of Fresh Semen Quality in Bali Cattle (Bos javanicus) Bull. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 372, No. 1, p. 012025). IOP Publishing.
  • 34. Bhakat M, Mohanty TK, Singh S, Gupta AK, Chakravarty AK, Singh P (2015): Influence of semen collector on semen characteristics of Murrah buffalo and Crossbred bulls. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci, 3(4), 253-258.
  • 35. Singh S, Bhakat M, Mohanty TK, Kumar A, Gupta AK, Chakravarty AK, Singh P (2015): Sexual behavior and its relationship with semen quality parameters in Sahiwal breeding bulls. Veterinary world, 8(6), 745.
  • 36. Tekin K, Parildar, ÖO, Bastan I, Şahin D, Stelletta C, Daskin A., (2018): Sexuel deactivity on spermatological parameters in Angora Goat. International symposium of Erdemli, Mersin. Page: 238.