An Investigation on the Relationships Between the Morphometric Measurements of Testes and Other Spermatological Features in the Rams Maintained in the Conditions of Afyon Before, During and After the Breeding Period
2 Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dogum ve Jinekoloji Anabilim Dalı - AFYON
3 Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Zootekni Anabilim Dalı - AFYON - In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationships between the morphometric measurements of testes and other spermatological features and to estimate the breeding period in the rams maintained in the conditions of Afyon province before, during and after the breeding period and total twelve rams of white Karaman, Awassi, Chios and Dagliç breeds aged 3-4 years were used as material.
The morphometric measurements of testes were taken weekly, semen were collected twice a week and blood sera were collected twice a month in each animal before (June to August), during (September to November) and after (December to February) the breeding period.
The positive relationships of scrotal volumes and circumferences with the reaction times (r=0.94, r=0.93) and abnormal sperm rates (r=0.95) and negative relationships between the scrotal thicks and sperm motility (r=-0.89) were significant (P<0.05) before breeding period. The testes thicks were positively and significant (P<0.01) correlated with the semen volume (r=0.98) and viscosity (r=0.97) during period. Meanwhile the correlations between the reaction times and scrotal thicks (r=-0.89) were negative and significant (P<0.05), the testes lengths had also negative (P<0.05) relationships with the semen volume (r=-0.91) and viscosity (r=-0.92). The testes thick was negatively and significant (P<0.01) correlated with the volume (r=-0.97) and viscosity (r=-0.97) of semen, mass activity (r=-0.97) and motility (r=-0.96) of sperm after breeding period. However the correlations of scrotal circumferences with reaction times (r=0.97) (P<0.01) and abnormal sperm rates (r=0.93) (P<0.05) were positive and significant.
The differences between the variations of morphometric measurements of testes and spermatological features were found to be significant (P<0.05) before, during and after the breeding period. Additionaly the influence of breeding period on blood sera testosterone levels were found significant (P<0.01) and high values obtained in the breeding period.
Based on the correlations detected between certain morfometric measurements of testes and other spermatological features, it was concluded that morfometric measurements of testes can be used as a selection criteria for breeding males and the breeding period starting on the second half of August and finishing on the first half of November in the rams kept under the Afyon conditions.
Keywords : Afyon, breeding period, ram, spermatological feature, testes measure