Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the reproductive activity of mature Iraqi bull buffaloes and effect of month’s changes on the testes activity. Two hundred and fifty testes of mature buffaloes bull were taken from the slaughter house from December 2010 to September 2011. After slaughtering the length and width of the right testes were measured weight of the testes were also taken then carefully the epididymis were dissected. The diameters of testicular seminiferous tubules were also measured. The present study demonstrated a significant increased (p<0.05) in weight (g), length and width (cm) in the testes in March and April. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules demonstrated higher (p<0.05) significant in April, March and May, thickness of seminiferous tubules demonstrated higher significance in April, May and March. The increase in spermatogenesis process lead to increase the diameter and thickness of seminiferous. Conclusions reproductive activity of bull buffalo and semen physical characteristics decreased in hot months and increased in the moderate and cold months. The increase of ambient temperature in hot months lead to disturbance in reproductive activity but didn’t stop it.
Highlights
Domestic water buffaloes are common in southern Iraq, Water Buffaloes are believed to originate in South Asia according to Cockrill (1993)
Buffalo bulls are capable of breeding throughout the year, but some seasonal fluctuation in reproductive function is evident in most countries where this species is reared (Sengupta et al, 1963), with semen quality being poorer during summer than in winter
A morphological study of the testis is mandatory to evaluate the influence that different factors, such as hormonal fluctuations of the photo-neuroendocrine circuit may have on reproductive efficiency which may be a result of seasonal variation (Pant et al, 2003; Yasuo et al, 2006; Al-Sahaf and Ibrahim, 2012)
Summary
Domestic water buffaloes are common in southern Iraq, Water Buffaloes are believed to originate in South Asia according to Cockrill (1993).The buffalo has been traditionally regarded as a poor breeder with low reproductive efficiency, characterized by late attainment of puberty and maturity, seasonality of calving, long postpartum anoestrus, poor expression of estrous signs, low conception rates and long calving intervals (Perera, 1999). In present study the results of the testicular measurement showed months-related differences, even if accompanied by remarkable variations between individuals.
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