Abstract
Aim:This study was conducted to determine the effect of seasonal variations on testosterone serum concentration, body weight, scrotal circumference, and some sperm parameters in rams living in a semi-arid region of eastern part of Algeria.Materials and Methods:Blood samples were taken monthly from eight Ouled Djellal rams, aged between 3 and 4 years, in the Technical Institute of Breeding “ITELV” located at Ain M’lila City. Sperm were collected by an electro-ejaculator once a month for 1 year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter: 3 times/season).Results:Mean values of volume, mass motility, live sperm, and scrotal circumference were higher during spring (p<0.05) with 1.23±0.26 mL, 3.39±1.07, 79.16±15.82%, and 36.29±1.91 cm, respectively; whereas, the sperm concentration was higher during autumn with 1.19±0.56×109 spz/ml compared to 0.46±0.13×109 spz/mL to spring. The season influenced significantly the percentage of abnormal sperm (p<0.05), especially during winter (6.47±2.12%), but had no influence on the weight of rams. Seasonal hormonal activity was high with 4.89±2.06 ng/mL and 3.09±1.35 ng/mL of testosterone in mating seasons (spring and autumn, respectively), knowing that the sexual season is not marked too much in these latitude.Conclusion:We can conclude that testosterone concentration is strongly correlated with the scrotal circumference and that the season has a significant influence on spermatic parameters, and that despite the large variations in sperm production, the rams can be used throughout the year.
Highlights
Sheep farming in Algeria constitutes 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and the sheep number has increased from 17.5 to 26.6 million head, with an average annual increase of 4.4% over the 10-year period (2003-2013) [1]
The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the season on spermatozoa and blood testosterone concentration in Ouled Djellal (OD) rams in semi-arid zones
As for seasonal averages, the highest values were observed in spring and autumn with 4.89±2.06 ng/mL and 3.09±1.35 ng/mL, respectively, coinciding with the periods of maximum sexual activity
Summary
Sheep farming in Algeria constitutes 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and the sheep number has increased from 17.5 to 26.6 million head, with an average annual increase of 4.4% over the 10-year period (2003-2013) [1]. The sheep raising is concentrated in the steppe and constitutes a large animal resource of the country. This breed tends to dominate other blood, improving its fertility to increase livestock productivity and reproductive efficiency [2]. Eight major breeds have been identified so far. Some of these breeds show strong adaptation capabilities to harsh environmental conditions (such as water and/or food scarcity and high temperatures). The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated
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