EVALUATION OF MAIN PARAMETERS OF SEMEN OF ILE DE FRANCE RAMS

Nikola Metodiev, Emilia Raicheva

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the main parameters of semen – volume of ejaculate, concentration of spermatozoa and its motility, obtained from Ile de France rams at the beginning and at the end of mating campaign. The study was carried out with two mature rams, aged 3 and 4 years. During five consecutive days, at the first and the last week of mating campaign, from each ram was obtained by artificial vagina 2 consecutive ejaculates for evaluation or totally 20 ejaculates from а ram. The data of the two rams was combined and was compared to the parameters of ejaculates, obtained from the beginning to those, obtained at the end of mating campaign. The following parameters were studied: volume of ejaculate, concentration of spermatozoa and motility of spermatozoa. The data was calculated by the methods of variation statistic, using the computer program EXCEL (2003), Microsoft Windows. The differences of the values of the studied parameters were compared by t-statistics.
The mean volume of the first and the second ejaculates, obtained at the beginning and at the end of mating campaign, varied between 1.16 ml and 1.35 ml.
The obtained values of motilities of spermatozoa depending on (the consequence of the ejaculate) at the begging and at the end were form 68% and 73%.
The significant highest concentration of spermatozoa in 1 ml had the first ejaculates, obtained at the begging of mating campaign (2.255 bill.) and significantly lowest values had the second ejaculates, obtained at the and of mating campaign (1.769 bill.).

Keywords: evaluation; mating campaign; ram; semen

Date published: 2023-01-03