Seasonal changes in reproductive activity, sperm variables and sperm freezability in Blanca Andaluza bucks

  1. Gallego-Calvo, Lourdes 1
  2. Gatica, M. Carolina 2
  3. Santiago-Moreno, Julian 3
  4. Guzmán, José L. 1
  5. Zarazaga, Luis 1
  1. 1 Universidad de Huelva, “Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, ceiA3”, Dept. Ciencias Agroforestales. Ctra. Huelva-Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819 Palos de la Frontera (Huelva)
  2. 2 Universidad Arturo Prat, Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables. Avda. Arturo Prat, 2120 Iquique
  3. 3 SGIT-INIA, Departamento de Reproducción Animal. Ctra. Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid
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Revista:
Spanish journal of agricultural research

ISSN: 1695-971X,  2171-9292

Año de publicación: 2015

Volumen: 13

Número: 4

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.5424/SJAR/2015134-8168 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

Otras publicaciones en: Spanish journal of agricultural research

Objetivos de desarrollo sostenible

Resumen

Interest in the preservation of endangered breeds such as the Blanca Andaluza goat, has increased and some steps should be therefore taken to ensure it. The study was designed to determine the seasonal reproductive pattern of Blanca Andaluza bucks, and whether this affects the quality of their semen and its freezability over the year. Seven bucks were used and their body weight, testicular weight, plasma testosterone concentration and fresh sperm quality determined every week. The collected sperm was cryopreserved and stored; it was then thawed and the same sperm quality variables measured every fortnight. High plasma testosterone concentrations were recorded during the summer and autumn, and low concentrations were recorded during winter and spring (p<0.001). No differences were seen between seasons in terms of the percentage of bucks ejaculating, the percentage of active bucks, or ejaculate volume. However, the sperm concentration, the total number of sperm per ejaculate, and the values for most fresh sperm variables were lower during the winter period (at least p<0.05). After freezing-thawing, the quality of winter-collected sperm was better, in some respects, than that of summer-collected sperm (at least p<0.05). These results reveal that Blanca Andaluza bucks show seasonal reproductive activity in terms of their plasma testosterone concentration, but no clear change in their sexual behaviour between seasons was observed. The values of fresh sperm variables also vary over the year, reaching their lowest during winter. However, after freezing-thawing, winter-collected sperm is of overall better quality than sperm collected during the summer.

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Fuente de los datos: Dialnet