Characteristics of semen collection floors and effect on sexual behaviour and semen quality of Murrah bulls

Abstract

The present study was carried out on Murrah breeding bulls maintained at artificial breeding complex of NDRI,
Karnal and JV Degree College, Baraut, Baghpat. The investigation was aimed to assess the reproductive activity of
Murrah bulls on the basis of sexual behaviour characters and seminal attributes as a result of introduction of
management interventions. To study the effect of collection floor, three types of semen collection floors viz.,
concrete floor, brick clay floor and rubber mattress were provided. Data recorded on sexual behaviour and seminal
attributes were statistically analyzed. The results indicated that bulls were very active and had higher sexual
stimulation before semen collection on rubber mattress followed by brick clay floor and concrete collection floor as
reflected by reaction time, dismounting time, total time taken in mounts and other behavioural manifestations.
Erection score, protrusion score, intensity of thrust, temperament score and libido score were highly influenced by
the type of floor. Analysis of seminal attributes revealed highly significant variation in ejaculate volume between
bulls exposed to different types of collection floor. Rubber mattress showed significantly higher value of semen
volume which confirmed its superiority in semen collection over other types of floors. However, physical
appearance, mass activity, initial progressive motility, non eosinophilic spermatozoa count, post thaw motility,
hypo osmotic swelling test were not significantly affected by the type of floor. Thus the rubber mattress collection
flooring helps in improving the semen output without having any detrimental effect on semen quality.