info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Effect of age and season on semen traits and serving capacity of Pelibuey rams under tropical conditions
Autor
JESUS RICARDO AKE LOPEZ
JESUS RICARDO AKE VILLANUEVA
JOSE CANDELARIO SEGURA CORREA
NARDA YANERIT AKE VILLANUEVA
RUBEN CORNELIO MONTES PEREZ
Institución
Resumen
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age of the ram and season of the year on scrotal circumference, semen traits and serving capacity. Six Pelibuey rams were allocated to two age groups: young (n=3; 9.2 ± 0.3 months) and adult (n=3; 34 ± 6.9 months). Rams were ejaculated once a week, during fall (September-December) and winter (December-March), and semen evaluated. Also, service capacity of the rams were tested during 10 minutes. Scrotal circumference (SC) was evaluated each month. Data on response variables were analyzed using analysis of variance with or without repeated measures, where the fixed effects were breed, season and the interaction breed x season.
There was no breed x season interaction effect (P > 0.05) for all traits. Age and season had effects on SC, sperm concentration and individual motility (P < 0.05). Age had also effect on time at first mating (P < 0.05). In conclusion, most of the traits studied were influenced by age and season of the year; these results may allow to take better decisions in the management to improve reproductive performance of Pelibuey rams.