Physical performances and semen characteristics of bulls at Central Cattle Breeding & Dairy farm, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the bulls and their semen from production to insemination in a routine artificial insemination (AI) programme in Bangladesh. Five crossbred bulls were examined for breeding soundness and their semen was preserved and evaluated with respect to sperm motility. Semen was sampled immediately after collection, pre-diluted, cooling down to +40°C, and storage at -196°C in Central Cattle Breeding Station (CCBS).The percentage of motile spermatozoa varied from 60±10 to 68±3 depending on the occasions when evaluation was made.However pulse rate, body condition scores and scrotal circumference of different bulls varied from 54.3 to 64.3/min, 3.1 to 3.8 (1-5 Scale) and 36.7 to 40.0 cm respectively.This variation may be occurred due to feeding,season and other factors.On the other hand the ejaculate volume of the bulls varies from 4.6 to 9.2 and highest volume found in one bull whose body condition score is 3.8 and body weight is 712kg . Highest sperm motility found in 68 and 60 is the lowest sperm motility. The sperm motility dropped due to dilution, chilling , freezing and storing. It could therefore be inferred that freezing of semen should be undertaken with special care to maintain optimum semen quality.