Effect of testicular consistency on semen quality of Murrah buffalo breeding bulls

Abstract

The present study was conducted to find out the effect of testicular consistency on semen quality of Murrah buffalo breeding bulls. For this study, 64 mature Murrah buffalo breeding bulls, which were in regular semen collection, were selected. Four ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for semen quality attributes viz. ejaculate volume (EV, ml), mass motility (MM, 0-5), sperm concentration (SPC, million/ml), sperm motility (SM, %), viability (%) and sperm abnormality (SA, %). Testicular consistency was measured by palpation of the testis and categorised them as soft, moderate and firm state; the bulls were also grouped on the basis of testicular consistency as soft, moderate and firm group. The results revealed that EV, MM, SPC, SM, sperm viability and SA did not show any significant difference among the groups , however better quality semen was obtained in soft testicular group than firm and moderate groups. From this study it can be concluded that the bulls having soft testicular consistency produced better quality semen, therefore testicular consistency can also be included in routine breeding soundness evaluation of buffalo bulls.