Optimizing semen collection, dilution, and thawing protocols to enhance frozen thawed sperm quality in Bach Thao bucks
168 / 91
Keywords:
Artificial insemination, Bach Thao goat, Cryopreservation, dilution ratio, Semen collection interval, Sperm motilityAbstract
Artificial insemination and semen cryopreservation are key techniques for improving reproductive efficiency and conserving genetic resources in goats, but the success of these procedures depends on semen collection and processing protocols. This study aimed to optimize semen collection intervals, dilution ratios, and thawing conditions to enhance post-thaw sperm quality in Bach Thao bucks, an indigenous Vietnamese breed. Ejaculates were collected at different intervals, diluted with varying ratios of citrate-based extender, frozen, and thawed under several temperature-time combinations. Post-thaw quality of semen was evaluated through sperm motility,
morphology, and membrane integrity assessments. Semen collected at moderate intervals resulted in better sperm motility and fewer abnormalities than daily collection. A balanced dilution ratio improved cryosurvival, while excessive dilution reduced sperm quality. Thawing at moderate temperatures for short durations resulted in higher motility and membrane stability compared with lower or prolonged conditions. Integrating an appropriate collection interval with optimal dilution and controlled thawing significantly improved frozen–thawed semen quality in Bach Thao bucks. These results provide practical recommendations for breeding centers and contribute to the conservation of indigenous goat genetic resources.
Downloads
References
Abecia JA, Arrebola F, Macias A, Laviña A, González-Casquet O, Benitez F and Palacios C. 2016. Temperature and rainfall are related to fertility rate after spring artificial insemination in small ruminants. International Journal of Biometeorology 60(11): 1603–09. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1150-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1150-y
Aguiar GV 2008. Efeito individual e da época do ano sobre a composição do plasma seminal e a qualidade do sêmen caprino resfriado a 4 ºC por 48 horas do estado do Ceará 114p. Tese (Doutorado em Zootecnia), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza.
Asanbekov OA. 1983. A study of reproductive traits in down goat in Kirgizia. Trudy Kirg NPO po Zhivotnovod 35: 92–98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb050872
Azerêdo GA, Esper CR and Resende KT. 2001. Evaluation of plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa with or without seminal plasma. Small Ruminant Research 41: 257–63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(01)00189-4
Batista M, Niño T, Santana M, Alamo D, Castro N, Reyes R, González F, Cabrera F and Gracia A. 2011. Influence of the preservation temperature (37, 20, 4, −196 °C) and the mixing of semen over sperm quality of Majorera bucks. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 46: 281–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01659.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01659.x
Bezerra FQG, Neto LMF, Filho CRA, Chaves RM, Santos MHB, Neves JP and Oliveira MAL. 2009. Avaliação espermática de caprinos jovens da raça boer nascidos nas estações chuvosa e seca. Ciência Animal Brasileira 10(4): 1256–62.
Bintara S. 2011. Ratio of X:Y Spermatozoa and Sperm Quality of Kacang and Ettawa-Crossed Breed Goats. Sains Peternakan 9(2): 65–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/sainspet.9.2.65-71
Castelo TS, Frota TR and Silva AR. 2008. Considerações sobre a criopreservação do sêmen de caprinos. Acta Veterinaria Brasilica 2(3): 67–75. https://doi.org/10.21708/avb.2008.2.3.885
Chemineau P and Cagnie Y. 1991. Training manual on artificial insemination in sheep and goats. FAO, Aminal production and Health 83.
Corteel JM 1977. Production, storage and insemination of goats semen. Proceedings of the symposium: management of reproduction in sheep and goat, Madison, 24–25.
Dorado J, Munoz-Serrano A and Hidalgo M. 2010. The effect of cryopreservation on goat semen characteristics related to sperm freezability. Animal Reproduction Science 121: 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.04.182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.04.182
Evans G and Maxwell WMC 1987. Salamons’ artificial insemination of sheep and goats. Sydney, Australia, Butterworths.
Fukuhara R and Nishikawa Y 1973. Effect of pH, sperm concentration, washing and substrate concentration on respiration and motility of goat spermatozoa. Nihon ChikusanGakkaiho 44: 266–270. https://doi.org/10.2508/chikusan.44.266 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2508/chikusan.44.266
Gibbons A. 2002. Inseminación artificial con semen congelado en cabras de raza Angora. Revista Taurus 4(16): 24–32.
Henkel R, Maaß G, Bödeker RH, Scheibelhut C, Stalf T, Mehnert C, Schuppe HC, Jung A and Schill WB. 2005. Sperm function and assisted reproduction technology. Reproductive Medicine and Biology 4: 7–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2005.00087.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2005.00087.x
Hien NTT. 2023. Evaluation of estradiol and progesterone contents of Bach Thao and Boer goats during the oestrous cycle. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 65(12): 52–55. https://doi.org/10.31276/VJST.65(12).52-55 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31276/VJST.65(12).52-55
Hidalgo M, Rodriguez I and Dorado J. 2008. The effect of cryopreservation on sperm head morphometry in Florida male goat related to sperm freezability. Animal Reproduction Science 100: 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.07.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.07.003
Iheukwumere FC. 2008. Effect of Different Intensities of Semen Collection and Biochemical Evaluation of the Seminal Plasma of West African Dwarf Bucks. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research 8(1): 34–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/jasr.v8i1.2883
Jiménez-Rabadán P, Ramón M, García-Álvarez O, Maroto-Morales A, Álvaro-García PJ, Del Olmo E, Pérez-Guzmán MD, Fernández-Santos MR, Garde JJ and Soler AJ. 2013. Improved cryopreservation protocol for Blanca-Celtibérica buck semen collected by electroejaculation. Cryobiology 67: 251–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2013.08.002
Jobling S, Coey S, Whitmore JG, Kime DE, Van Look KJ, McAllister BG, Beresford N, Henshaw AC, Brighty G, Tyler CR and Sumpter JP. 2002. Wild intersex roach (Rutilus rutilus) have reduced fertility. Biology of Reproduction 67(2): 515-524. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod67.2.515 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod67.2.515
Khadiga MG, Mohamed KG and Doaa FT. 2005. The hormonal profile during the estrous cycle and gestation in Damascus goats. Small Ruminant Research 57(1): 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2004.07.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2004.07.009
Kifaro GC, Eik LO, Mtenga LA, Mushi DE, Safari J, Kassuku AA, Kimbita EN, MaedaMachang’u AD, Kanuya NL, Muhikambele VRM, Ndemanisho E and Ulvund MJ. 2007. The potential use of artificial insemination in sustainable breeding of dairy goats in developing countries: A case study of Norwegian dairy goats in Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 8: 19–24.
Kozdrowski R, Dubiel A, Bielas W and Dzięcioł M. 2007. Two protocols of cryopreservation of goat semen with the use of computer-assisted semen analysis system. Acta Veterinaria Brno 76(4): 601–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200776040601
Leboeuf B, Restall B and Salamon S. 2003. Production et conservation de la semence de bouc pour l’insémination artificielle. INRA Productions Animales 16(1): 91–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20870/productions-animales.2003.16.2.3650
Leboeuf B, Delgadillo JA, Manfredi E, Piacère A, Clement V, Martin P, Pellicer-Rubio MT, Boué P and de Cremoux R. 2008. Place de la maîtrise de la reproduction dans les schémas de sélection en chèvres laitières. INRA Productions Animales 21(4): 391–402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20870/productions-animales.2008.21.5.3414
Mayorga-Torres BJM, Camargo M, Agarwal A, Du Plessis SS, Cadavid ÁP, and Maya WDC. 2015. Influence of ejaculation frequency on seminal parameters. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 13(1): 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-015-0045-9
Memon AA, Wahid H, Rosnina Y, Goh YM, Ebrahimi M and Nadia FM. 2013. Effect of ascorbic acid concentrations, methods of cooling and freezing on Boer goat sperm cryopreservation. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 48: 325–330. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02155.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02155.x
Milovanov VK 1962. Biology of reproduction and articial insemination of animals. Moscow, Russia: Selhozizdat. Morrell JM, Malaluang P, Ntallaris T and Johannisson A. 2022. Practical method for freezing buck semen. Animals 12: 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030352 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030352
Mortimer ST 2000. CASA-practical aspects. Journal of Andrology 21(4): 515–524. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2000.tb02116.x
Nhan P, Chuc NT, Mo TTH, Phuong NTM and Tri NM. 2025. Some quantitative, qualitative, and physicochemical parameters of semen from Boer and Alpine breeding bucks. Journal of Animal Science and Technology 149: 52–61. https://doi.org/10.70408/nias.i149-y2025-593 DOI: https://doi.org/10.70408/nias.i149-y2025-593
Nunes JF 2002. Inseminação artificial em caprinos. In: Gonçalves PBD, Figueiredo JR, Freitas VJF (eds.), Biotécnicas aplicadas à reprodução animal. São Paulo: Varela, p. 340.
Omasanya OK, Hassan JO, Oloye AA, Oyewusi IK, Oni OO, Olurode SA, Oloruntuga OO, Adeusi AA, Bassahwa AP, Adetomiwa AS and Mustapha L. 2021. Effects of ejaculation frequency on semen characteristics and serum testosterone concentration in Red Sokoto bucks. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 48(6): 34–45. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v48i6.3275
Paulenz H, Soltun K, Ådnøy T, Berg KA and Söderquist L; 2005. Effect of different extenders on sperm viability of buck semen stored at room temperature. Small Ruminant Research 59: 89–94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2004.11.010
Purdy PH. 2006. A review on goat sperm cryopreservation. Small Ruminant Research 63(3): 215–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.02.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.02.015
Salamon S and Maxwell WMC. 2000. Storage of ram semen. Animal Reproduction Science 62(1–3): 77–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00155-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00155-X
Tuli RK, Schmidt-Baulain R and Holtz W. 1991. Influence of thawing temperature on viability and release of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in frozen semen from Boer goats. Animal Reproduction Science 25: 125–31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4320(91)90037-Z
Vargas DH, Escobar MC, Cadavid HC, Maya WDC, Mayorga-Torres JM, López-Pérez J and Davila DA. 2022. Konvencionalna i funkcionalna procjena sjemena mužjaka mliječnih koza. Veterinarska Stanica 54(2): 129–36. https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.2.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.2.1
Yodmingkwan P, Guntaprom S, Jaksamrit J and Lertchunhakiat K 2016. Effects of extenders on fresh and freezing semen of Boer goat. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia 11: 125–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.12.021
Zhao BT, Han D, Xu CL, Luo MJ, Chang ZL and Tan JH. 2009. Protocol optimization for long-term liquid storage of goat semen in a chemically defined extender. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44: 865–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01101.x
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the articles published in The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences is vested with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which reserves the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad, for reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information. The Council has no objection to using the material, provided the information is not being utilized for commercial purposes and wherever the information is being used, proper credit is given to ICAR.