Variability of the Generative Function of Bulls of Different Breeds and Their Tolerance in Connection with the Change in the Lunar Phases

Abstract

It was revealed that the Moon, being in its full phase, affects the quality of the ejaculate of sire bulls; there is an increase in the activity of spermatozoa in the ejaculate of all tested bulls, as a whole and separately for each line. A significant increase in the activity of sperm cells in the ejaculate from 8.4 points in the new moon to the maximum activity of 8.65 points in the full moon was revealed. The highest rate of sperm production was revealed in bulls in the full moon phase up to 6.2 ml of ejaculate, which is 16.1% higher than the smallest volume of ejaculate equal to 5.2 ml obtained in the new moon phase (P <0.001). The average indicator for sire bulls in terms of the concentration of sperm in the ejaculate was the maximum in the full moon phase - 1.18 bln/ml. That significantly exceeded the indicators of sperm concentration in the new moon and last quarter stage by 0.18 and 0.1 bln/ml, respectively, with a fairly high degree of variability of this feature of 31.8 … 39.4%. The unequal ability to adapt to changing conditions of a space nature in animals of different breeds and lines has been established. The Montvik Chieftain 95679 bulls were less tolerant. The Siling Traijune Rokita sire bulls proved to be more tolerant. Sperm production in bulls of this line was more stable. With age, sires of all lines become more sensitive to the changing lunar phases. The greatest dependence is seen in the bulls of the Simmental breed.