INFLUENCE OF AGE AND SEASON ON SOME SEMEN PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT GENETIC GROUPS OF BUCKS

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Goat Breeding Station , IPA Agriculture Research Center to investigate the effect of genetic group, season and age on some semen characteristics. Twenty-two bucks of five genetic groups (Shami, Saanen, Local, Shami x Local and Saanen x Local), aged 2-5 years and weighed 35-65 kg, were used in this experiment for a complete calendar year.Results revealed that genetic groups had no significant effect on all seminal traits studied. The highest volume (1.30 + 0.24 ml) and the lowest percent (2.20 ± 0.31%) of abnormal spermatozoa were attained during autumn, whears the lowest volume (0.51 ± 0.07 ml) and the highest (10.01 ± 5.02%) abnormal spermatozoa were recorded during summer and spring season, respectively. The highest volume (1.50 + 0.70 ml), mass activity (92.14 + 1.01 %) and individual motility (91.42 + 1.42 %) were obtained from bucks aged 5 years. It can be concluded that the breeding groups of the bucks had no effect on the physical characteristics of the semen, and the best time for semen collection from all genetic groups studied was during autumn season and from 5 years old bucks for the purposes of AI programs.