Sheep - AgRIS

Table 7.2 Ram semen components (Mann, 1964)
Attributes mg/l00ml/g
Dry weight 14,820
Chloride 87
Sodium 103
Potassium 71
Caleium 9
Magnesium 3
Inorganie phosphorus 12
Total nitrogen 875
Non-protein nitrogen 57
Urea 44
Ammonia 2
Fruetose 247
Laetie acid 36
Citrie acid 137
Aseorbie acid 5
7. 2.2.5 Factors affecting semen quality
i) Breed
Gunn et al. (1942) observed that British breeds in Australia are susceptible to the high
environmental temperatures similar to Merino. However, the period of minimum spermatogesis
did not correspond with the high environmental temperature of mid and late summers but were
observed in spring. Under Indian conditons autumn appears to be the season characterised with
poor quality of ejaculates and summer provides most superior quality of semen, as has been
reported in the indigenous breeds like Bikaneri and Mandya (ShuklaandBhattacharya,
1952;SahniandRoy, 1969;Deshpande, 1970). This is in contradication to the general trend in
temperate breeds reared under temperate or tropical conditions.
Singh and Roy (1963) in their studies on Romey Marsh rams (U.P.) observed that similar
to Bikaneri and Mandya breeds, the autumn season in characterised by poor quality semen but
unlike these breeds which produce best semen in summer, it is in winter that the semen of
Romney Marsh rams has the best quality. As against this, Emmens and Robinson (1962)
observed that Romney Marsh rams give most satisfactory semen in autumn in Australia. It is
due to such diffeerences in response of different breeds to different seasons that Webster
(1952), Mies Filho and DE Almeida Ramos (1956b), suggested that extreme care is required in
choosing rams of right breed for a particular environment. It is not clear whether such limited
data is adequate to prove breeds and environment interactions i.e. differences in sensitivity of
breeds to environmental conditions, but gives a sufficient caution before any large scale import
of exotic sires is made with an aim to improve the local breeds.
Tiwari and Honmode (1968) have observed that good quality semen could be obtained
from cross bred rams (Rambouillet x Malpura and Rambouillet x Chokla) at the age of 10th
month under semi arid conditions. Rambouillet rams at that age showed very poor sexual sesire
on oestrus ewes.
Honmode and Tiwari (1968) have reported that crossbred rams (Rambouillet x Malpura
and Rambouillet x Chokla) produce greater quantity and higher concentration of spermetpzoa
as compared to Malpura and Chokla rams. A gross deterioration in semen quality of
Rambouillet rams was obtained in the month of June.
Sahni and Roy (1969) have observed that the average semen volume of Bikaneri rams was
higher when compared to Mandya rams in all the season. Excellent motility, high percent of
live spermatozoa and higher sperm concentration was found in both the breeds through out the
year although the statistical difference between the season were highly significant with respect
to motility and spermatozoa conc./ml.
Sharma et al (1969) collected semen from adult Bikaneri and Mandya rams at various
collection frequencies and observed that effect of continuous collection i.e. once in a day upto
20 or 40 days on semen production did not bring and change. Observation on 1, 2 and 3
403