Relationship of scrotal circumference and hormonal levels with semen quality in Murrah buffalo young bulls

Abstract

Scrotal circumference and hormone level of breeding bulls are related with semen quality, which is one of the important criteria of breeding soundness evaluation. To study the correlation, eighty five ejaculates were collected once a week from 18 Murrah buffalo bulls (~24 month) for 5 months. Monthly Scrotal circumferences (SC) of 18 Murrah buffalo bulls was recorded with flexible measuring tape and plasma concentration of testosterone and IGF-1 were estimated by Bovine ELISA kit. Results of the study revealed that SC had highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with ejaculate volume (r= 0.5), MA (Mass activity) (r= 0.38) and Individual motility (IM) (r= 0.46) and negative correlation with head (r= -0.32), mid-piece (r= -0.61), tail (r= -0.55) abnormalities. Testosterone (r= 0.41) and IGF-1(r= 0.37) showed positive correlation with SC. Ejaculate volume showed significant (P<0.05) positive correlation with MA (r= 0.3) and highly significant (P<0.01) positive correlation with IGF-1(r= 0.39). MA showed highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with SPC (r= 0.76), IM (r= 0.97), Live (r= 0.78), AI (r= 0.77) and significant negative correlation with head (r= -0.64), mid-piece (r= -0.26), tail (r= -0.62) and total (r= -0.69) sperm abnormalities. The results indicated that SC and testosterone is a useful indicator of sperm production and important criteria for selection of high genetic potential young bulls.