Computer-aided sperm analysis of Malpura Rams reared under semi-arid tropical environment Kumar Davendra, Joshi Anil, Naqvi S.M.K., Saha S. Division of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, via Jaipur, Rajasthan-304501, India. E-mail address: davendraror@yahoo.co.in. Abstract Malpura is a hardy native sheep breed of the semi-arid tropical environment and is reared for mutton and wool production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate sperm motion characteristics of adult Malpura rams by the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) technique. Semen was collected from 12 donor rams at the onset of autumn breeding season by artificial vagina on 8 occasions twice a week. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance using the general linear model repeated measures procedure. The overall means of volume (ml), mass motility (0–5 scale), sperm concentration (106/ml), sperm motility (%), rapid motile sperm (%), medium motile sperm (%), slow motile sperm (%), linearity (%), straightness (%), curvilinear velocity (μm/s), average path velocity (μm/s), straight-line velocity (μm/s), amplitude of lateral head displacement (μm), beat frequency (Hz), sperm head area (μm2) and sperm head elongation (%) were 1.13, 4.55, 2866.1, 93.2, 87.1, 4.2, 0.9, 58.7, 83.1, 255.59, 174.80, 148.33, 7.31, 32.32, 5.99 and 48.8, respectively. The quantitative information derived from automated CASA system about the sperm subpopulation, velocity and track dimensions of spermatozoa reflect the sound breeding potential of Malpura rams during major breeding season in a semi-arid tropical climate. Top Key words Computer-aided sperm analysis, Malpura, Semen, Semi-arid climate. Top |