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Seasonal variation in semen characteristics of Friesian bulls in Iraq

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

F. Dessouky
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Division, Abu-Ghraib Experiment Station, Abu-Ghraib, Iraq
K. H. Juma
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Division, Abu-Ghraib Experiment Station, Abu-Ghraib, Iraq

Summary

A total of 1659 ejaculates was collected from four Friesian bulls imported from Europe and ten of their offspring born in Iraq while in regular artificial service at the Abu-Ghraib Experiment Station. The work covered a period from 1 January 1965 to 30 June 1967.

The five semen characteristics, volume, density, mass activity, individual motility and pH were studied and the influence of age of bull and season on these characters was investigated. The relationships between the characters were also investigated.

Deterioration was observed in volume of ejaculate, density, mass activity and individual motility in the Iraqi Friesians. Influence of season on all semen characters lacked significance with the exception of mass motility in the European Friesian bulls (P < 0·05). Highly significant positive correlations were found between most of the characters studied.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

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