Morphological evaluation of ram semen related to the collection method

Abstract

The study was carried out to perform a morphological evaluation of ram semen related to the collection method. A total of 20 Turcana Alba rams aged 3 to 6 years old were used in the study. The study was conducted in a farm located in Cluj County. Semen samples were collected from each animal using two collection methods: the artificial vagina (AV) and the electrostimulation (E). The average variation of normal spermatozoa (%) for the artificial vagina method was X±S=94.31±2.07, and by electrostimulation X±S=93.62±3.19. Regarding the percentage of primary anomalies recorded, no significant changes were found: X±S=2.27±1.05 in the case of AV and X±S=2.83±1.61 for E. The dynamic of secondary anomalies (%) present in the analyzed semen was as follows: for AV it was X±S=2.94±1.14, while when collected by electrostimulation an average of X±S=3.04±1.36 was found. The percentages of immature spermatozoa were approximately equal: X±S=0.57±0.25 for AV and X±S=0.59±0.40 for the electrostimulation method. The results showed that both sperm collection methods can be used in field conditions, with the mention that the values obtained were superior for the artificial vagina method.