Abstract
Background: heat stress diminishes semen quality in rams. Objective: to evaluate productive and reproductive responses of rams and ram lambs with different rectal temperatures under heat stress conditions. Methods: the animals (n=12, Dorper × Katadhin × Pelibuey crossbreed, 235 to 730 days old ) were assigned to one of three experimental groups: ram lambs with low rectal temperature (RLLRT), ram lambs with high rectal temperature (RLHRT) and Rams. Results: afternoon rectal temperatures were higher (p≤0.05) in the RLHRT group, and there was no difference (p>0.05) between the Rams and RLHRT groups. The ejaculated volume and sperm concentration were higher (p≤0.05) in the group of Rams than in RLLRT and RLHRT. Mass motility and sperm concentration were lower (p≤0.05) in the RLLRT group than in the RLHRT and Rams groups. Average daily weight gain was not different (p>0.05) between the RLLRT and RLHRT groups. Conclusion: the selection of ram lambs with low rectal temperature under heat stress conditions showed no benefit in terms of average daily weight gain and ejaculate traits.
Published Version
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