Semen parameters and their seasonal variations of local Arbia breed bucks in Western Algeria

AHMED RÈDHA BENIA, SI MOHAMMED HAMMOUDI, EL AID MAMMERI, SIDI MOHAMMED AMMAR SELLES, BELHAMITI BELKACEM TAHAR, AMAR AIT AMRANE, RACHID KAIDI

Abstract: Our study aims to investigate semen parameters of Arbia breed goats living in western Algeria. This experiment was conducted at the University experimental farm in Tiaret on one year. Semen of three bucks were collected once a week using an artifi cial vagina. Semen parameters seem to be infl uenced by season: ejaculation volume, sperm motility and sperm viability (1.1 ± 0.39 ml; 81.79 ± 13.42%; 73.73 ± 9.07%, respectively) were high in autumn and summer and low during spring (0.11 ± 0.14 ml, 71.07 ± 11.28%, and 52.38 ± 20.34%, respectively). This difference between seasons is mainly signifi cant when comparing autumn and spring (p < 0.05). Semen concentration followed an opposite trend to that of other parameters, it is high during winter and spring (7.87 ± 2.38 × 109 spz (spermatozoon) / ml, 7.61±1.81× 109 spz / ml, respectively) and low in autumn (6.4 ± 2.62 × 109 spz / ml), with no signifi cant difference between seasons (p > 0.05). The seminal pH fl uctuates with high values in winter and summer and low in spring and autumn. In conclusion, Arbia breed bucks at latitude of 35°15’N display seasonal variation in sperm production with a peak in autumn and minimum level in spring.

Keywords: Arbia breed; bucks; photoperiod; season; semen characteristics

Date published: 2019-04-09