Relationship of Hyaluronidase Concentration to Fertility of Dairy Bull Semen

Abstract

187 semen samples were collected from 24 dairy bulls. Hyaluronidase assays on seminal plasma were made initially and after 24 hrs. of incubation at 37[degree]C under toluene. Semen samples were classified for statistical analysis into 3 groups according to the number of 1 stand 2d-service cows bred per sample: (a) 10 to 19 cows bred; (b) 20 or more cows bred; and (c) total of a and b. Coeffs. of correlation were obtained between fertility estimates and hyaluronidase concns. in each group on a "total," "between bull" and "within bull" basis. None were statistically significant. It seems doubtful if any significant relationship exists between the hyaluronidase and fertility levels of semen from bulls of relatively high fertility when the semen is diluted at a rate of 1-100 or less.