Effect of frequent ejaculation of West African dwarf goat on semen characteristics

• Published in: Animal reproduction science Vol. 11; pp. 249 - 258
• Main Authors: Okere, C., Chiboka, O., Montsma, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1986
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-4320(86)90128-4

Three experiments were carried out at Wageningen, The Netherlands, with West African Dwarf Goat (WADG) bucks in a weather-controlled environment to determine the characteristics of semen collected with an artificial vagina. In the first trial semen was collected from four WADG bucks twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) for five months. In a second trial semen was collected from five WADG bucks in a Latin square design, one to five times a week for five weeks, and in a third experiment semen was collected three times a day at 5.5-h intervals for 21 days from four WADG bucks. Volume of semen (ml) of buck 02 (0.82 ml) and buck 05 (0.83 ml) did not differ but they differed from buck 04 (0.46 ml) and buck 07 (0.53 ml) which did not differ from each other. Bucks 02 and 05 did not differ in total sperm concentration (× 10 9 sperm cell/ml), 2.45 and 2.5 respectively, and buck 04 (1.45) and buck 07 (1.6) did not differ either. Breakdown of mean semen characteristics by day of collection showed no significance in any of the criteria used in the evaluation. Mean values in breakdown of mean semen characteristics by bucks or by period of collection or by number of collections per week showed no differences in the variables measured. Comparisons of semen characteristics of week 1, 2 and 3 showed that colour and consistency in week 2 differed from the other two weeks which did not differ from each other. This trend was also shown by the other variables, except abnormal sperm and damaged apical ridge where no differences existed.