Cryopreservation and Quality Assessment of Buffalo Bull Semen Collected from Farmer’s Doorstep

Abstract

The present study was undertaken with the objective to evaluate the effect of transportation distance on freezability of buffalo semen collected at farmer’s doorstep. In the study elite Murrah buffalo bulls of 3–6 years of age available with the farmers in the breeding home tract were used. Semen samples were divided into two groups based on distance of transportation viz. group I (80–100 km) and group II (130–150 km). Semen was collected at the owner’s premises and kept in warm water at 30 ± 2 °C and extended 10–15 times based on its consistency and color. The extended semen was transported to laboratory in indigenously designed container. In the laboratory, after subjective assessment, the semen was cryopreserved successfully. The frozen–thawed semen was assessed for quality parameters using computer assisted semen analyzer and artificial insemination (AI) in field conditions. Post-thaw sperm total motility (51.06 ± 2.59 vs. 45.36 ± 2.43 %) and progressive motility (31.8 ± 1.75 vs. 26.5 ± 1.55 %) did not vary significantly between groups, whereas rapid motility and sperm kinetic parameters like average path velocity, straight linear velocity, curvilinear velocity, beat cross frequency, and straightness were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group I than the group II. Parameters, such as amplitude of lateral head displacement, linearity, elongation, and head size of spermatozoa did not vary significantly between the two transportation distances. The conception rates, of the frozen semen used for AI at field level, were found to be 53.8 and 60.2 % in group I and group II, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed design of container for cooling and transportation of diluted semen, up to 150 km distance proved to be highly efficient for cryopreservation of semen of buffalo bulls from field conditions.