Effect of successive ejaculations on semen characteristics in the buffalo

Abstract

Semen samples were collected from buffalo bulls by a.v. at intervals of 24, 12, 8 and 2 hr., four consecutive ejaculates being collected for each bull in every treatment. Semen qualities were measured in fresh and stored ejaculate at 4° C. for 48 hr.1. (a) In fresh semen, the average initial values were 3·12 ml. for volume, 645 × 10³ for concentration per cubic millimetre, 2134 × 10⁶ per ejaculate, 7·25 for motility, 80·1% for live spermatozoa and 21·1% for abnormals.(b) Volume, concentration and percentage of live sperm were not affected by successive ejaculations.(c) Motility started to decrease after the third collection in most cases.(d) Percentage of abnormals was highly affected irrespective of interval of collection.(e) When the interval of collection was short, enlarged middle piece of spermatozoa and detached galea capitis were observed.2. (a) In stored semen, the average values were for motility 3·12%, for live sperm 64·5%, and for abnormals 27·4%.(b) Storage caused a decrease in motility and an increase in percentage of abnormals, while it had no effect on percentage of live sperm.(c) The rupture of head membrane of spermatozoa was observed in stored semen.