Abstract
Aim:To study the effect of preputial washing on bacterial load, preservability and semen quality in Murrah buffalo bullsMaterials and Methods:A total of 36 collections of three Murrah buffalo bulls maintained at Artificial Breeding Research Centre, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, were collected at weekly intervals from each bull without preputial washing and latter ejaculates from same bull with preputial washing by infusing normal saline (0.85%), KMnO4 (0.02%) and savlon (2.0%) to first, second and third bull, respectively. The microbial load and semen quality were evaluated during different hours of storage at refrigerated temperature (0, 24 and 48 h) and after thrawing of cryopreserved (at −196°C) semen.Results:The results of preservation of semen at refrigerated temperature showed that bacterial load was markedly lower in ejaculates of bulls subjected to preputial washing. Semen preserved at refrigerator temperature and cryopreserved, the effect of washing solution was significant for individual motility (IM), non-eosiniphilic count, hypo-osmotic swelling reactivity (HOST), total plate count (TPC) and acrosome integrity. KMnO4 was found to be the best in lowering bacterial load, sperm abnormalities and in improving semen quality such as motility, non-eosinophilic count, HOST and acrosome integrity even up to 48 h of preservation and cryopreserved semen. Effect of duration of preservation and stage of cryopreservation was also significant for IM, non-eosiniphilic count, HOST, sperm abnormalities and acrosome integrity.Conclusion:Overall the results suggested that preputial washing with KMnO4 solution improved the semen quality and reduced microbial load of Murrah buffalo bull’s semen preserved at refrigerated temperature and cryopreservation.
Highlights
Production and dissemination of disease free quality semen are the major thrust of semen stations in India and throughout the world
Artificial vagina (AV), glassware, semen dilutor and materials coming in contact with semen during processing are contributing to the bacterial load of the semen
AV, glassware and extender used were subjected to assessment of bacterial load
Summary
Production and dissemination of disease free quality semen are the major thrust of semen stations in India and throughout the world. Most of semen stations in India strictly follow minimum standard protocol for frozen semen production through diseases testing at regular interval to avoid the spread of the pathogen and widespread of ubiquitous bacteria by contaminated semen. The success of artificial insemination (AI) depends on the quality semen production and supply. The sexual activity may lead to contamination of the penis and prepuce [4], which might increase microbial load in semen in natural mating condition. Higher microbial load in semen is a reflection of unhygienic management in various steps of bull management, semen collection, and processing [5]. To use semen for AI for Copyright: The authors.
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