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Semen characteristics of Awassi rams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

K. H. Juma
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad
F. Dessouky
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad

Summary

On the College of Agriculture farm in Abu-Ghraib 147 ejaculates were collected from three docked and four normal Awassi rams born during November 1962. The work covered a period from 1 April 1967 to 31 March 1968.

Nine semen characters, namely, volume, mass activity, individual motility, sperm concentration, sperm number, pH, methylene blue reduction time and the percentages of abnormal and dead sperms, were studied. The effect of season and docking on these characters was investigated.

Seasonal variation was observed in all traits studied. On the whole, semen quality was poorest during winter and best during summer. The effect of docking was more pronounced on sperm concentration, sperm number and percentage of abnormal sperms. Docking appeared to increase sperm production and reduce sperm abnormality.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

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