16 COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EPIDIDYMAL SPERM TRAITS OF BONSMARA AND NGUNI BULLS
A. Maqhashu A , T. R. Netshirovha A , N. Bovula A , L. G. Makhanya A , P. J. Sebei E , M. B. Matabane A , M. L. Mphaphathi A C and T. L. Nedambale B DA Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Irene, South Africa
B Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Science, Department of Animal Science, Pretoria, South Africa
C University of the Free State, Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, Bloemfontein, South Africa
D University of Venda, School of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence in Animal Assisted Reproduction, Limpopo, South Africa
E Mara Research Station, Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Limpopo, South Africa
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 29(1) 115-116 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv29n1Ab16
Published: 2 December 2016
Abstract
The recovery and preservation of sperm from the epididymides of slaughtered breeding bulls is a viable option in maintaining their germplasm for artificial insemination or for future use in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the quality of epididymal sperm derived from slaughtered Bonsmara and Nguni bulls. The study used 20 bulls that were 2 years of age, 10 from each breed. Twenty pairs of testes from Bonsmara and Nguni bulls were removed by orchiectomy within 20 min of slaughter, and semen was extracted from the cauda epididymis. The testicle length and weight were measured. Semen from bulls of the same breed was pooled and sperm characteristics were evaluated using a computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). Collected semen samples were then extended (1:1) in egg yolk citrate (EYC) extender and stored at 5°C. Sperm motility rate was evaluated at 0, 24, 30, and 48 h during in vitro semen storage. Data were analysed by ANOVA. The Bonsmara bull’s testicle length (13 ± 0.31cm) and weight (290 ± 0.24 g) were higher than that of the Nguni bulls (10.3 ± 0.11 cm and 275 ± 0.42 g; P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in fresh total sperm motility rate (74.4 ± 2.14 v. 75.8 ± 3.11%) or concentration (5.31 ± 1.14 v. 5.83 ± 2.09 × 109) of Bonsmara and Nguni bulls, respectively. There were no significant differences observed for total sperm motility at 24 h (49.3 ± 1.18 v. 52.6 ± 2.60%) and 30 h (40.5 ± 1.94 v. 43.4 ± 2.81%) between the Bonsmara and Nguni bulls, respectively. The total sperm motility at 40 h was <20% for both Bonsmara and Nguni bulls on the EYC extender. There were no differences in sperm motility rate of the epididymal semen of Bonsmara and Nguni bulls. We concluded that it is possible to derive semen from the epididymis of indigenous Nguni and composite Bonsmara bulls.
