Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(3):93-101 | DOI: 10.17221/185/2024-CJAS

Association between conventional semen variables and sperm freezability in ramsOriginal Paper

Aizhan Makhanbetova1, Filipp Georgijevič Savvulidi2, Martin Ptáček2, Lucie Langerová2, Beybit Kulataev1, Nurlan Malmakov1
1 Meat Sheep Breeding Department, Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Fodder Production, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Assessments of routine ejaculated samples were used to evaluate the conventional semen variables (sperm motility, semen volume, sperm concentration) as initial decision-making criteria to freeze or not to freeze. However, the association of these attributes to the cryotolerance of ram sperm has not been adequately studied yet. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse if the semen volume, sperm motility and concentration can be used to predict post-thaw ram sperm motility. Additionally, in the present study we tested if the order of ejaculate sampling (first versus second, within a single collection session) and the breed of rams influenced cryopreservation outcomes.

Keywords: breed; cryopreservation; ejaculate volume; order of ejaculate collection; sperm concentration; spermatozoa motility

Received: November 8, 2024; Accepted: February 12, 2025; Prepublished online: March 21, 2025; Published: March 25, 2025  Show citation

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Makhanbetova A, Georgijevič Savvulidi F, Ptáček M, Langerová L, Kulataev B, Malmakov N. Association between conventional semen variables and sperm freezability in rams. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2025;70(3):93-101. doi: 10.17221/185/2024-CJAS.
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