Influence of availability of shade on testicular characteristics of Santa Ines rams/Influencia da disponibilidade de sombra sobre as caracteristicas seminais de ovinos Santa Ines
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of availability of artificial shading on testicular and seminal characteristics of Santa Ines crossbred rams. Twelve 8 month old rams at 38.1 ± 5.2 kg average weight, were used in a total random design with two treatments: areas with and without...
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| Published in: | Acta scientiarum. Animal sciences Vol. 35; no. 4; p. 441 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidade Estadual de Maringa
01-10-2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of availability of artificial shading on testicular and seminal characteristics of Santa Ines crossbred rams. Twelve 8 month old rams at 38.1 ± 5.2 kg average weight, were used in a total random design with two treatments: areas with and without available artificial shading (black polyethylene mesh screen for a 50% reduction of solar radiation). The scrotal circumference, scrotal length, scrotal volume, rectal temperature and scrotal temperature were measured twice a week. Also a biweekly analysis of the semen was carried out, measuring the volume and spermatic concentration as well as the percentage of normal spermatozoa. The results show that available shading provided for lower scrotal temperatures and higher sperm concentration, without influencing the scrotal volume and the percentage of normal spermatozoa. The testicular measures, such as the scrotal circumference and length were higher in the rams that were subjected to the no available shading treatment. The absence of differences, in some of the analyzed variables, between the two treatments, with and without available shading, could be due to high adaptability of the animals. Keywords: semen, biometrics, sheep, shade, thermal stress. Com a finalidade de avaliar o efeito do sombreamento artificial sobre as caracteristicas testiculares e seminais de ovinos deslanados, foram utilizados 12 carneiros (1/2 sangue Santa Ines x SRD) com peso vivo medio de 38.06 ± 5.24 kg e faixa etaria de cerca de oito meses. Os tratamentos foram disponibilidade ou nao de sombreamento artificial, utilizando tela preta de polietileno com malha para bloquear 50% da radiacao solar global. Duas vezes na semana entre 14h e 15h realizou-se a medicao da circunferencia escrotal (CE), comprimento escrotal (CC), volume escrotal (VE), temperatura retal (TR) e temperatura escrotal (TE). Quinzenalmente, foram realizadas analises quantitativas e qualitativas do semen. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que o sombreamento proporcionou menores temperaturas escrotais e maior concentracao espermatica, nao influenciando o volume escrotal e a porcentagem de espermatozoides normais. Medidas testiculares como circunferencia e comprimento escrotal foram mais elevadas ao sol. A ausencia de diferencas em algumas variaveis analisadas nos grupos com e sem sombreamento, pode ser reflexo da rusticidade natural dos animais. Palavras-chave: semen, biometria, carneiro, sombra, estresse termico. |
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| ISSN: | 1806-2636 |
| DOI: | 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i.18479 |