%0 Journal Article
%T Variations in semen quality parameters of Ovchepolian pramenka rams according to the method of collection and the meteorological season
%A Nikolovski Martin
%A Atanasov Branko
%A Dovenska Monika
%A Petkov Vladimir
%J Macedonian Veterinary Review
%D 2012
%I Ss.Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
%X The off-breeding season for rams is a time-limiting factor for their use in scientific aims. This research was set upon two aims: (1) to acknowledge the differences of semen quality collected throughout the year, and (2) to investigate which of the two commonly used methods for semen collection (artificial vagina - A.V. and electro ejaculation - E.E.) could prove to be more favorable in the off-breeding period. Five Ovchepolian Pramenka rams were used for this investigation. They were divided in two groups: group 1 (two rams), which was subjected to A.V. method, and group 2 (three rams), which was subjected to E.E. method for semen collection. Semen evaluation included: volume, spermatozoa concentration, live spermatozoa, ejaculate density and motility. According to the season, results have a high statistical significance for the volume (P<0.01) and motility (P<0.001) parameters. Group 1 and 2 results versification showed a high statistical significance for the motility score (P<0.001), ejaculate volume (P<0.01) and percentage of live spermatozoa (P<0.01) parameters. In conclusion, the A.V. method is more favorable for semen collection in late autumn, winter and spring time when rams are out of the breeding season.
%K rams
%K semen collection
%K artificial vagina
%K electro ejaculation
%K breeding season
%U http://www.macvetrev.mk/2012-2/Mac%20Vet%20Rev%202012;%2035%20%282%29;%2079-86.pdf