Correlation of morphometric and testicular traits with sexual behaviorand semen quality parameters in Kajali rams

PRIYA  DHATTARWAL; TANMAY  MONDAL; AMIT SHARMA; DAWOUD AMIR  NEHRU; SHAKTI KANT  DASH; SANDEEP  KASWAN

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i4.176263

Authors

PRIYA DHATTARWAL Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India
TANMAY MONDAL Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India
AMIT SHARMA Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India
DAWOUD AMIR NEHRU Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India
SHAKTI KANT DASH Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India
SANDEEP KASWAN Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Rampura Phul Bathinda 151 103 Punjab India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i4.176263

Keywords:

Body measurements, Kajali, Ram, Semen parameters, Sexual behaviour, Testicular traits

Abstract

This study examined associations between qualitative and quantitative body and testicular traits with sexual behaviour and semen characteristics to establish baseline reproductive benchmarks for Kajali breeding rams. Twelve healthy rams (1–3 years) of two colour variants maintained under uniform stall-fed management, were evaluated for body morphometry, comprehensive testicular biometry, sexual behaviour along with semen quality parameters, and qualitative testicular traits such as testicular symmetry, scrotal bipartition, testicular shape. Age group showed statistically significant positive associations with two pre-copulatory behaviours: anogenital sniffing frequency (r = 0.870, p = 0.024) and flehmen response (r = 0.834, p = 0.039). Rear-leg circumference was the only morphometric
indicator which showed a strong positive correlation with flehmen response (r = 0.864, p = 0.027), although, chest girth and paunch girth also showed moderate positive correlation with total semen volume, average sperm motility, and alive sperm percentage. Among testicular parameters, testicular length showed moderate positive correlations with average pawing (r = 0.791, p = 0.061) and with semen traits such as sperm concentration (r = 0.803, p = 0.055). Testicular weight and volume also showed moderate positive correlation with flehmen response (r=0801; p = 0.055). The findings highlighted age and specific morphometric as well as testicular traits as potential indicators of sexual behaviour and semen quality parameters for selecting superior breeding rams of indigenous breeds under semi-arid conditions.

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