Daily Sperm Output, Spermatogenic Efficiency, and Sexual Behavior of Dezhou Donkey Jacks Mounting Jennies in Estrus.
Abstract: This study aimed to assess the sexual behavior of jacks mounting jennies in estrus and determine the daily sperm output (DSO) and spermatogenic efficiency using two equations to calculate testicular volume (TV). Eight sexually rested mature jacks, aging 5 to 10 years old, had semen collected once a day for 10 consecutive days using jennies in good standing estrus for mounting. Sexual behavior and semen parameters were assessed during each collection. Testicular measurements of height, width, and length were taken immediately before the first semen collection, and these measurements were used to calculate TV. After that, the TV was used to predict the DSO. The average total sperm number (TSN) obtained on days 8 to 10 was deemed the actual DSO. Differences in the predicted vs. the actual DSO were used to calculate the spermatogenic efficiency. In addition, the actual DSO was also used to calculate the number of inseminating doses a jack could produce for both on- and off-site breeding. Jack's sexual behavior and sperm motility did not vary across collection days. Sperm concentration and TSN reduced over time (P < .05). The actual DSO was 9.1 ± 4.1 billion, and the predicted DSO varied from 4.7 to 18 billion. Spermatogenic efficiency varied from 50 to 150% based on jack and the equation used to calculate TV. The number of inseminating doses ranged from 15 to 47 at 300-500 million progressively motile sperm (pms)/dose for on-site breeding. In contrast, the number of breeding doses with cooled-shipped semen (1 billion pms/dose) varied from 4 to 14 doses across donkeys. In conclusion, sexual behavior was not affected by daily semen collections. Sexual rest did not affect sperm motility. The predicted DSO varied with the equation used to determine TV. Clinically normal donkeys have high spermatogenic efficiency, which confirms previous histology reports.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2021-02-19 PubMed ID: 33993947DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103420Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examines the sexual behavior of Dezhou donkey jacks and provides an analysis of their daily sperm output (DSO) and spermatogenic efficiency. Two mathematical models were used to calculate testicular volume (TV), which was then used for predictions on DSO.
Research Details
The study involved eight sexually mature and rested jacks aged between 5 and 10 years. Semen was collected from the jacks once a day for 10 consecutive days, utilizing jennies in active estrus for mounting. The behavior of the jacks and the properties of the semen were assessed during each collection. Testicular measurements were also taken right before the first collection, and these measurements were used for calculating TV.
Findings
The researchers observed that:
- Sexual behavior and sperm motility remained consistent across consecutive days of collection.
- Sperm concentration and total sperm number declined with time.
- There was a noticeable variance in the predicted DSO vis-à-vis the actual DSO (9.1 ± 4.1 billion).
- Predicted DSO fluctuated between 4.7 to 18 billion based on the equation used for calculating TV.
- Spermatogenic efficiency showed significant variation (between 50-150%) depending on the jack and the formula used for TV calculation.
- For on-site breeding, a jack could produce between 15 to 47 inseminating doses at 300-500 million progressively motile sperm (pms)/dose, while for off-site breeding using cooled-shipped semen (1 billion pms/dose), the number of doses ranged between 4 to 14 across the donkeys.
Conclusion
The study concluded that sexual rest and daily semen collection did not affect the sexual behaviour or sperm motility of jacks. It was also observed that the predicted DSO showed significant variation depending on the equation used for measuring TV. Finally, they concluded that clinically normal donkeys maintained high spermatogenic efficiency, corroborating previous histology reports.
Cite This Article
APA
Magalhaes HB, Canuto LEF, Zhao F, Li M, Li X, Ji C, Canisso IF.
(2021).
Daily Sperm Output, Spermatogenic Efficiency, and Sexual Behavior of Dezhou Donkey Jacks Mounting Jennies in Estrus.
J Equine Vet Sci, 101, 103420.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103420 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, IL.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, IL; Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Shandong Province, China.
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Shandong Province, China.
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Shandong Province, China.
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Shandong Province, China.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, IL. Electronic address: canisso@illinois.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae
- Estrus
- Female
- Male
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatogenesis
- Spermatozoa
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Bucci R, De Amicis I, Parrillo S, Robbe D, Carluccio A. Evaluation of Testicular Volume and Correlation with Sperm Production in Martina Franca Donkeys: A Parameter to Consider When Approving Breeding Jacks. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 23;13(23).
- Montes-Garrido R, Anel-Lopez L, Riesco MF, Neila-Montero M, Palacin-Martinez C, Soriano-Úbeda C, Boixo JC, de Paz P, Anel L, Alvarez M. Does Size Matter? Testicular Volume and Its Predictive Ability of Sperm Production in Rams. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 13;13(20).
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