Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T10:12:30.708Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal variation in some characteristics of ejaculated spermatozoa of Sudan Desert sheep in the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

K. A. A. Galil  and
A. K. A. Galil
K. A. A. Galil
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Sudan
A. K. A. Galil
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Sudan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The Sudan Desert sheep are well adapted to the hot tropical climate, are thirst tolerant and can travel for long distances under nomadic conditions in search of water and pasturage. The ejaculate volume, sperm cell concentration, total number of sperms per ejaculate, motility, percentage live and percentage abnormal spermatozoa and the fructolytic index of semen were estimated throughout the hot dry summer (March-June), hot rainy season (July-October) and the winter (November-February). The semen characteristics were normal for about 7 months (May-November) covering the last 2 months in summer, the whole rainy season and the 1st month in winter and deteriorated slightly during the rest of the winter and early summer. Thus the Sudan Desert rams appear to be able to breed throughout the year and their spermatogenesis is not seriously affected by high environmental temperatures.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 99 , Issue 1 , August 1982 , pp. 35 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amir, D. & Volcani, R. (1965). Seasonal fluctuations in the sexual activity of Awassi, German Mutton Merino, Corriedale, Border-Leicester and Dorset Horn rams. II. Seasonal changes in semen characteristics. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 64, 121–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J. (1945). The semen of the ram. In The Semen of Animals and its Use for Artificial Insemination, p. 12. Edinburgh: Technical Communications Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Breeding and Genetics.Google Scholar
Bishop, M. W. H., Campbell, R. C., Hancock, J. L. & Walton, A. (1954). Semen characteristics and fertility in the bull. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 44, 227–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackshaw, A. W. (1962). The evaluation of semen. In Artificial Breeding of Sheep in Australia (ed. Roberts, E. M.), pp. 108–122. Proceedings of the Conference School Wool Technology, University of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Bogart, R. & Mayer, D. T. (1946). Environmental temperature and thyroid gland involvement in lowered fertility of rams. Research Bulletin. Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. No. 402, 43 pp.Google Scholar
Boguth, W. (1951). The suitability of staining methods for the determination of dead spermatozoa. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 58, 39–40 (in German).Google Scholar
Campbell, R. C., Dott, H. M. & Glover, T. D. (1956). Nigrosin eosin as a stain for differentiating live and dead spermatozoa. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 48, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, R. C., Hancock, J. L. & Rothschild, L. (1953). Counting live and dead bull spermatozoa. Journal of Experimental Biology 30, 44–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cupps, P. T., Mcgowan, B., Rahlmam, D. R. & Reddon, A. R. (1960). Seasonal changes in the semen of rams. Journal of Animal Science 19, 208–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dott, H. M. (1956). Partial staining of spermatozoa in the nigrosin eosin stain. 3rd International Congress of Animal Reproduction 1956 Cambridge A.I., section 3, pp. 42–43.Google Scholar
Dott, H. M. & Foster, G. C. (1972). A technique for studying the morphology of mammalian spermatozoa which are eosinophilic in a differential ‘live/dead’ stain. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 29, 443–445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dutt, R. H. & Simpson, E. C. (1957). Environmental temperature and fertility of Southdown rams early in the breeding season. Journal of Animal Science 16, 136–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmens, C. W. & Robinson, T. J. (1902). Artificial insemination in sheep. In The Semen of Animals and Artificial Insemination (ed. Maule, J. P.), pp. 205–251. Edinburgh: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau.Google Scholar
Foote, R. H. & Tbimbebgeb, G. W. (1969). Artificial insemination. In Reproduction in Farm Animals (ed. Hafez, E. S. E.), 2nd edn, pp. 135–153. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.Google Scholar
Fowler, D. G. (1969). The relationship between air temperature, scrotal surface area and testis temperature in rams. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 9, 258–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fowler, D. G. & Dun, R. B. (1966). Skin folds and Merino breeding. 4. The susceptibility of rams selected for a high degree of a skin wrinkle to heat induced infertility. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 6, 121–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomes, W. R. (1977). Artificial insemination. In Reproduction in Domestic Animals (ed. Cole, H. H. and Cupps, P. T.), 3rd edn, pp. 257–279. New York, San Francisco, London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Gunn, R. M. C., Sanders, R. N. & Granger, W. (1942). Studies in fertility in sheep. 2. Seminal changes affecting fertility in rams. Bulletin. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Australia 148, 140 pp.Google Scholar
Hafez, E. S. E., Badreldin, A. L. & Darwish, Y. H. (1955). Seasonal variation in semen characteristics in the subtropics. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 45, 283–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hancock, J. L. (1951). A staining technique for the study of temperature shock in semen. Nature, London 167, 323–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, R. A. P., Dott, H. M. & Foster, G. C. (1978). Effect of ionic strength, serum albumin and other macromolecules on the maintenance of motility and the surface of mammalian spermatozoa in a simple medium. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 52, 65–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrick, J. B. (1961). Fertility examination of the ram. Veterinary Medicine 56, 461.Google Scholar
Hulet, C. V., Foote, W. C. & Blackwell, R. L. (1965). Relationship of semen quality and fertility in the rams to fecundity in the ewe. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 9, 311–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ingram, D. L., Walters, D. E. & Legge, K. F. (1975). Variations in behavioural thermoregulation in the young pig over 24 hour periods. Physiology and Behaviour 14, 689–695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johari, D. C. (1973). Studies on the semen quality of Polwarth, Rambouillet, Bikaneri and Rampur Bushair rams. 2. Semen quality in summer, rains and autumn seasons. Indian Journal of Animal Health 12, 85–88.Google Scholar
Laig, J. A. (1955). Fertility and Infertility in Domestic Animals Chapter 5, part II, pp. 55–79. London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox.Google Scholar
Lincoln, G. A. (1981). Seasonal aspects of testicular function. In The Testis (ed. Burger, H. and de Kretser, D.), pp. 255–302. New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Lindsay, D. R. (1969). Sexual activity and semen production of rams at high temperature. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 18, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mckenzie, F. F. & Berliner, V. (1937). Reproductive capacity of the rams. Research Bulletin, Missouri Experiment Station. No. 265, 143 pp.Google Scholar
Mckenzie, F. F. & Phillips, R. W. (1934). Measuring fertility in the ram. A preliminary report. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 84, 189–202.Google Scholar
Makxer, A. (1979). Simultaneous differentiation between motile, non-motile, live and dead spermatozoa by combining supravital staining and multiple exposure photography procedures. International Journal of Andrology 2, 32–42.Google Scholar
Mann, T. (1964). The Biochemistry of Semen and of the Male Reproductive Tract. London: Methuen.Google Scholar
Mattner, P. E. & Voolmayr, J. K. (1962). A comparison of ram semen collected by artificial vagina and by electroejaculation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 2, 78–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mies, Filho A. & De Almeida Ramos, A. (1956). Semen production of rams in Brazil. 3rd International Congress of Animal Reproduction Cambridge 1956, section 3, pp. 101–103.Google Scholar
Misra, M. S. & Sengupta, B. P. (1965). Semen quality of rams and goats in Autumn. Indian Veterinary Journal 42, 742–745.Google Scholar
Moule, G. R. (1965). Field Investigation with Sheep – a Manual of Techniques. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia.Google Scholar
Moule, G. R. & Waites, G. M. H. (1963). Seminal degeneration in the ram and its relation to the temperature of the scrotum. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 5, 433–446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oloufa, M. M. (1953). Effect of thyroprotein on semen characteristics and body weight of fat-tailed rams during summer. Bulletin, Faculty of Agriculture, Fouad I University, Cairo, No. 26, pp. 3–8.Google Scholar
Ortavant, R., Lapland, M. & Thiabault, C. (1948). Influence de l'électroéjaculation sur la qualité du sperme chez le belier. Compte rendu hebdomadaire des séances de l' Académie d'agriculture de France 34, 733–736.Google Scholar
Pareek, P. K. (1974). Some seminal parameters of Bikaneri sheep. In Atti dell' VIII Simposio Internzionale di Zootecnica, Italy. Società Italiana per il Progresso della Zootecnica 1974, pp. 801–811.Google Scholar
Phillips, R. W., Schott, R. G., Eaton, O. N. & Simmons, V. L. (1943). Seasonal variation in tlio Semen characteristics of Sudan Desert sheep 43 semen of sheep and goats. Cornell Veterinarian 33, 227–235.Google Scholar
Pursley, G. R. & Herman, H. A. (1950). Some effects of hypertonic and hypotonio solutions on the livability and morphology of bovine spermatozoa. Journal of Dairy Science 33, 220–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rikmenspoel, R. & Caputo, R. (1966). The Michaelis-Menten constant for fructose and for glucose of liexokinase in bull spermatozoa. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 12, 437–444.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rothschild, Lord (1953). A new method of measuring sperm speods. Nature, London 171, 512–513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sahni, K. L. & Roy, A. (1967). A note on summer sterility in Romney Marsh rams under tropical conditions. Indian Journal of Veterinary Science 37, 335–338.Google Scholar
Salisbury, G. W. & Mercier, E. (1945). The reliability of estimates of the proportion of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa in bull semen. Journal of Animal Science 4, 174–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schindler, H., Volcani, R. & Eyol, E. (1957). Some characteristics of the semen of Awassi rams. Ktavin Record of Agricultural Research Station (Rehovot) English edition 5, 45–51.Google Scholar
Smyth, P. & Gordon, W. G. (1967). Seasonal and breed variation in the semen characteristics of ram in Ireland. Irish Veterinary Journal 21, 222–233.Google Scholar
Symington, R. B. (1961). Studies on the adaptability of three breeds of sheep to a tropical environment modified by altitude. V. The annual fluctuation on Rhodesian high veld. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 56, 165–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terril, C. E. (1968). Sheep and goats. In The Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals (ed. Perry, E. J.), 4th edn, pp. 215–243. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.Google Scholar
White, I. G. (1969). Mammalian semen. In Reproduction in Farm Animals (ed. Hafez, E. S. E.), 2nd edn, pp. 39–60. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.Google Scholar
Wiggins, E. L., Terril, C. E. & Emik, C. O. (1953). Relationship between libido, semen characteristics and fertility in range rams. Journal of Animal Science 121, 684–696.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willett, E. L. & Salisbury, G. W. (1942). The effect of various diluters, cooling rate, temperature of storage and some other factors on the livability of spermatozoa in stored samples of bull semen. Memoirs. Cornell University Agricultural Experimental Station No. 294, 45 pp.Google Scholar
William, C., Gopalakrishnan, C. A., Gnaniah, P. H. & Rahman, K. C. (1970). Norms for the Ramnad breed of sheep. II. Semen characteristics and influence of season. Indian Veterinary Journal 47, 417–421.Google Scholar
Zemjanis, R. (1969). Semen examination. In Textbook of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ed. Medway, W., Prier, J. E. and Wilkinson, J. S.). Baltimore: William and Wilkins.Google Scholar