Spermatozoa output, testicular sperm reserve and epididymal storage capacity of the Red Sokoto goats indigenous to northern Nigeria

Abstract

Fifteen Red Sokoto goats (bucks) aged 2 to 2 1 2 years with a mean body weight of 17.80±1.24 kg were used for studying daily spermatozea output, testicular and epididymal sperm reserves. Semen ejaculates were obtained from each buck and evaluated daily for six weeks. Semen characteristics were as follows: volume, 0.72±0.91ml; colour, milky/creamy; sperm concentration/ml, 0.61±0.05 × 10 9; mass motility, 3.80±0.33; individual metility, 77.50±5.60; and normal sperm morphology, 80.00±10.50. Mean scretal circumference was 21.80±0.29. Mean testicular and spididymal (capita, corpora and caudas) weights (gm) were 83.74±5.33, 7.27±0.63, 2.22±0.23 and 6.13±0.73 respectively. Corresponding sperm reserves were 44.32±5.79, 8.82±1.95, 4.99±0.86 and 45.64±7.87 × 10 9. Scrotal circumference was positively correlated to testicular weight (r = 0.86), testicular spermatids (r = 0.77), and caudas spermatozoa (r = 0.83).