Semen characteristics of Simmental and Limousine bulls raised under station conditions in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province

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Biochcm 15;379(2):

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Cawright J Dunbar

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Pcllucida. Tiss Org 16162): 148-64. iulanni'am. Zona ( Z P 3 )

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Pmpcr Properties

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):5 1-53,

Semen

characteristi- of

Simmental and Limousine bulls raised under station

conditions in Lorn

bok,

West Nusa Tenggara Province

C.

Annan

Dcpanmcnt of Animal Productron Fwulty of Animal Scitncc University of Mataram

JI. Majapahi No. 62 Matarm Lombok West Nusa Tcnggarn Provinw Indonesia 831 25

Introduction

)' Struetun' o f the

uniu

*fthc zPZ and ZP3

'

from _{~ellucida. Bimhem ~ i o382(2):275-83 ~ h ~ ~}

+

The artificial insemination (A. I .) programme was introduced to Lombok i s tand, West Nusa Teng- gara Province since 1976. It is mainly based on the use of imported exotic and local bulls semen

and using them to crossbreed and upgrade local cattle. The A.I. programme depends on frozen semen which is supptied by A.1. Centres either in Lembang (West Java) or Singosari (East Java). During an autonomy em, some exotic bulls have been imported from Australia to Indonesia by central government, and five of them (three Simmental and two Limousine breeds) were intro- duced to A.1. Sub-centre in Banyurnulek, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province in the end of December 2003. The purposes of introducing these breeds are to improve and up- grade native (Bali) cattle. These two breeds are

now

becoming popular to the fanners and found commonly in the villages all over Lombok island.

Selection of the butls by assessing their semen characteristics before recruiting them into A.I.

Sub-centre is important. Semen of high quality is required for use in A.1. to maintain satisfactory conception rates in both dairy and beef herd. According to Zemjanis (19701, ejaculates character- istics should be evaluated with fegard to volume, colour, concentration, motility, presence and abstnce of foreign material, live-dead counts and abnormalities. It has been indicated that the semen characteristics of Bos lourus and 30s indicus breeds were extensively studied under vary- ing environmental conditions (Kodagali, 1967; Raja and Rao 1983; Rao and Rao 1975; Rekwot

a

a1. 1987). Due to the fact that no information is available regarding to semen characteristics of Simmental and Limousine breeds raised under hot climate conditions in

Lombok,

studies on those aspects from the two breeds are of great value.

Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate the characteristics of Simmental and Lim- ousine bulls semen, with the objective to determine their suitability and effectiveness for using in

A.I. programme.

Materials and Mtthads

This experiment was conducted in Artificial Insemination Sub-centre, Banyumulek, West Lorn- bok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province that belongs to West

Nusa

Tenggara Provincial Livestock Services during a periods of April through December 2004. Three Simmental and two Limousine bulls (Bos taurus) around 2 years old were used in this study. These bulls were im- wedfrom Australia in the end of December 2003 under Breeding Project Scheme of the Direc- torate General of Livestock Production, Department o f Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia. Each animal housed in individual pen (3 x 6 m) connected with open yard for exercise. All pens were adjacent to semen collection area.

Management

system of raising the animals in the location was conducted intensively. Improved foram, Elephant grass, was directly provided in the pens (cut

and carry systems). Each bull was also received 3 kg per day commercial concentrate. Animals received their requirements according to their body weight and stage of growth. Drinking water

was provided

in

the

pen

ad

libitum.

The

animals were maintained in good health throughout

the

experimental period.

Semen was collected using a srandard artificial vagina (40

-

45°C) from five mature bulls which consists of threc Simmental and two Limousine bulls. Semen collection was made twice a week

(Monday and Thursday) from O8:OO to 10:OO am.

The

bull was teased before each collection by

walking him behind a teaser bull allowing 2 to 3 false mounts during a period up to 5 minutes. Ejaculate collected in the collection tube was immediately brought into the laboratory and put in the waterbath (30°C) for semen characteristics assessments.

Each ecautate was evatualed as described by Zemjanis (1 970). This included visual or gross evaluation of the ejaculate soon aRer collection in respect o f volutne. colour, and presence or ab- sence of foreign material, and microscopic examination o f individual sperm motility. it was de- termined by examining a drop of raw undiluted semen on prewarmed dide at 37'C with cover slip under phase contrast microscope at 400X magnification. Semen concentration was deter-

mined by the use of digital photometer (MINITUBE-Germany). The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) o f the semen was determined by the pH indicator paper.

Subjective motility assessment was determined in

Semen

Laboratory o f A. I. Sub-centre, Banyu- mulek. Data on different characteristics

of

semen (volume, motility, concentration of spermatc-

zoa per

ml

and total concentration

of

spermatozoa per ejaculate) were statistically analyzed using ANOVA procedure after angular and square root transformation.

Results and

Discussion

In general, the study shows that effect o f bulls on semen characteristics (volume, motility, con- centration of spermatozoa per ml and total concentration of spermatozoa per ejaculate) was found to be highly significant {p<0.001).

The majority of semen samples showing milky white colour.

The

consistency of the ejaculates ranged from thin to thick. Kodagali (1967) observed that the colour of the normal ejaculates from Gir and Jafri breeds ranges from milky to creamy. Kodagali ( 1967) also stated thar semen of healthy bulls is milky white or yellowish mitky in colour. The consistency is either thin or thick, depending on the concentration of sperm.

In

general, the thicker semen samples had higher con- centration and the thinner

ones

had lower concentration

of

sperm (Rekwot er al. _{( 1 987).}

All semen samples from five bulls indicating an average initial pH reading of 6.2.

The

average

pH of 30s indicur and

Bos

raurw bull semen has h e n found to be 6.79

(Rao

and

Rao,

1975).

In

the

present

study, no

significant

different

in

semen

volume

among Jayengrana,

Umarrnaya,

and Tamtanus bulls was observed.

The

difference in semen volume between Jayengrana, Umar- maya and Banjaransari bulls was also non significant. This is similar to the observation o f Raja and Rao (1983), who found no significant difference in the ejaculate volume between Brown Swiss crss-bred bulls. However, semen volume of Banjaransari bull was significantly higher (p<0.00 1 ) than semen volume of Tamtanus and Umarrnadi bulls.

The highest average

of

semen

volume was found in Banjaransari bull (7.86 k 0.57

ml),

followed by Jayengrana (6.1 1 k 0.88 ml), then Urnarmaya and Tamtanus bull (5.84 ;t 0.38 ml and 5.57

*

0.30 ml); whilst the lowest average of semen volume was recorded in Umarmadi bull (4.00

+

0.35 ml). The value recorded in the present study for Umarmadi is similar to the value repotted by Rao and Rao ( 1 975) in Jersey bull. This, however, is higher than the value reported by Raja and Rao (19831, who found the volume of semen per ejaculate to be 2.65

*

0.084 ml for the cross-bred Brown Swiss bulls, the variation in this regard probably being attributable to differences in the ages of the animals used 1 the present study.

International Asla Lank "Repductive Biotechnolosy fw A n m a

There a1

Ummadi, Banjaransari s p m i~

U m m a d i , Banjaransari

(p<0.001)

as wes t

motitility

Banjaransari x

*

i 1

present Rao (198

to

*

Brown

U m m a d i

k pwcent

obsuved 31.25 i Cc

Kaja fo

laner,

(p<0.00 1)

Jayengmna, Tamtanus wirl

erage ml i x

*

x l ~ ~ / e j a c u l a t e bulk,

+

x 10~1ml). then

b:

x

10~/ml),

+

x 10~1ml) bull

s

Urnarmaya

*

x 109/ml). at

sperm (1 1 106/ml) rt

sperm k 1 10~/ml)

'Ihe e'aculate

4

(p<0.001) i I0 lhan Urr

104 (10.465

*

10'). ( I !

(pi0.00 1)

0.92 x lo9). spermat1

A 0.78 x lo9 28.468. T-

values el a/. (19871, total concer

k x 10~/ejacdate

+

0.:

rht

Banjaransari Al

ther processd. whether spermatozo~

rnp~sium "Re~mductivc Biotechnology for Anims/ Breeding in southeast

-

len a d l ~ b i h m . ' h e

animals

WEE good

hal]e

throughout

fie

There

was no sipjficant difference in the average of sperm motility among Jayengrana, Tamta-

nus,

Ummadi,

and Banjaransari bulls. However, sperm motility in Jayengrana, Tamtanus,

using a standard

-

from five mawre bulls

umarmadi,

and Banjaransari were statistically (p<0.001) higher compared with Urnmaya bull. nental and two Limousine bulls. semen colleclion was made twice a week Well as h e average of sperm motility in Umarmadi was found to be significantly (p<0.001) IY) from 08:00 to 10:00 before each _by higher than that of U m m a y a bull. The average of sperm motility in Jayengrana, Tamtanus and

teaser bull allowing 2 to 3 false a period up to 5 minutes. ~ ~bulls were ~68.33

*

1.18, j 66.67

*

~2.50 and 68.75 ~

*

1.25 percent, respectively. ~ ~ he ~ ~ i the collection tube Was into (he laboratory and put in

or semen

aluated as described by ZemjaiIis ( 1 This ~ncluded visual or 'late soon afier collection in colour, and presence or ab- rial, and micm~copic sperm motility, was de-

2 a drop of raw ind diluted prewarmed slide at 3 7 wirh ~ ~cover

microsco~e at 400X concentration was deter-

gital photometer (MINITUBE-Germany). ion concentratjon determined by pH paper.

essment was determined of A.I. Subecentre, B ~ ~ ~ ~ -:nt chanctaisfia of semen (volume, motilib, concentratian rpenato-

'ncentration of spermatom statistically nnalyzcd er angular and transfornation.

n

that effect

of

bulls on characteristics (volume, motility,

oa Per

ml

and total of ejaculate) was found

roc0

.,

_{- - -} 00 _{- ,.} I

5 a m ~ b 9howing milky the ejaculates

:k

Kodagali (1967) colour of normal ejaculate, from lnges from milky to creamy. atso that semen of

'bite

or yellowish in C O ~ O U ~ . is either thin or thick,

lntration of sperm.

In

general, had higher con-

zr

ones

had

lower (Rekwot et a/. ( I 987).

fl five bulls indicating

an

of

The

average

'05 tQwa

bull

semen has

been found

to and R.0, 1975).

1

significant

different

in semen Jayengnna,

Umarmaya,

; observed.

The difference

b e ~ m n J~syengmna,

umar-

9 ~ 1 1 s w a also non to the observation of Raja

~ u n d no significant between Brown

However, semen volume of Banjaransari significantly higher lume of Tamtanus Urnarmadi bulls.

emen volume was

*

0.57 ml), followed

3 8 mi), then Umarma~a Tamtanus & ml and

*

'=st average of semen volume Umarmadj bull (4.00 lrded

in

the Present study for the value reported

in

Jersey bull- This, the value reported by Raja the volume of W'nen ejaculate

*

0.084 m l for the s bulls, the variation being a t t r i b ~ t a b [ ~ to

study.

p-nt findings are closely to earlier observation by Raja and Rae (19831, who noted the average of motility

of

sperms to be 66.24 & 0.874 in Brown Swiss cross-bred bulls. In the present study, U m m a d i buH shows the average motility of 57.78

*

7.95 percent and the lowest average sperm motility is observed in Umarmaya bull, that is 3 1.25 2.95 percent. Compared with figures pre- se

n

ted by Raja and Rao (1983) in Brown Swiss cross-bred bulls, the former figure i s found to be slightly lower than that of Umamadi bull, but in the latter, this much lower than that of Umar- maya bull.

A highly significant (p<0.001) difference in the average concentration of sperm atozoa per ml was observed between Jayengrana, Tamtanus and Umarrnadi bulls with umarma~a bull.The av-

of sperm per

ml

in five bulls was 2.356 4 0.06 x 10' with ranged of 0.954

-

2.912. This is almost similar with the values reported by Rekwot d (1987), who found sperm

of bulls w e e 0.970

+

0.1 1 x ~'tejacu~ate in

dry

season and 1.742 0.1 1 x 1 091ml in rainy season. Among the five bulls, the highest average concentration of spermatozoa was re- cor

d

e

d

i

n Umamadi bull (2.628 & 0.07 x lo9/ml). It is then followed by Tamtanus (2.535 & 0.04 1 0 ~ 1 ~ 1 1 , Jaym$rana (2.396 0.19 x 10~1rnl) and Banjaransari bull (2.255

*

0.09 1 09/ml). The

present also revealed that the lowest average con~entration of spermatozoa was noted in Umamaya (1.903

*

0.12 x 10~/ml). This is slightly higher than that of average concentration of B~~~~ swiss cross-bred bulls sperm (1599.64 55.371 X 106/ml) recorded by Rae and Rae (1983) and Jersey bulls

sperm

(I 296

*

184 X I O ' / ~ I ) reported by Rae and (1975).

~h~ average of total of spermatozoa per e'aculate was found to be significantly (,,<0,001) higher in Banjaransari bull (18.008 1.80

d

) than in UmamaYa (11.085 0h95

10') and Umarmadi bull (10,465

a

0.92 x lo9). Jayengrana bull ( 1 5.355

*

2.46 x lo')

higher (p<O.OO1) total spem concentration per ejaculate than Umarmadi hull (Lo,465

'

0.92 107. In the present study, the average concentration of spermatozoa Per ejaculate in five bulls was 13.764 0.78 x 10' with ranged o f 1.71 7 - 28.468. This is slightly higher than values obtained by Rekwot et a/. ( 1 987), who recorded that total concentration of spermatozoa of

bulls were 3.3 17 0.2 1 1 09/ejaculate in dry season and 10.104 ;t: 0.5 1 x 1 ogiejacuIate in

season.

Conclusion

From the results of this study it is assumed that Semen of Ja~engrana, Tamtanus, Umarmadi and Banjaransari bu]js under the conditions prevailing in the A1 Sub-centre, might be for fur-

lntmational A i r Link Symposium "Reproductive Biotochnology for Improved Animal Breeding in Southeot Asia"

Retennctr

Kodapali, S.B. 1967.

Studios

on

semen

chmracteristicn

in

Gir

and

Jlffri bned8,

Indian

vet.

J.

44:773-776

Raja, C.K.S.V. and

Rm,

A.R. 1983. Semen cheracteristics o f Brown Swiss cross-bred bulls. In-

dian vet. J. 60:23-28

Rao,

R.M.

and Rao, A.R. 1975. Studies on semen characteristics of Tharparkar and Jersey bulls. Indian vet. J. S2:889-900

Rekwot, P.I., Vo, A.A., Oyedipe,

E.O.,

Opaluwa, GI.,

Sekoni.

V.O. and Dawuda, P.M. 1987. In- fluence of season on characteristics of the ejaculate from bulls in an artificial insemination centre in Nigeria. Anirn. Reprod. Sci. 14: 187- 194

Zemjanis, R. 1970. Collection and evaluation of semen. In: Diaposlic and Thacapeutic Tech- niques in Animal tproduction,

2"

Edition, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimort, MD. Pp. 139-156

Internattonal Asia Link "Reproductive Bioabchnolw Improved Anmal E

estro

Syncromate-B

Praharani,

D.O.

Indonesian Producli~n, Ciawi 001

Brahr

rate synchronizat~

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Brahm,

cows 75%:A

A:75% Brangus A:37.5%

treated estradiollprogestin

ml

valerate impli

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removat. estn

15 wen

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nc

trus. also HeatWatch

HeatWatch

estnis whicl

femates

estnrs ), at

Inst., Cary,

lyze

( 1

-

1997),

proportion (0%, 25%, 50% 62.5%, 75%, loo%),