The effect of pre-natal maternal environment on live weight, reproductive and semen characteristics in ram lambs

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• 作者：Y. Jafariahangari^a ; ^{yjahangari@yahoo.co.uk} ; ^{jafari@gau.ac.ir} ; S. Smith^b ; R.K. Sharma^b ; S. Zerehdaran^a ; H. Blair^b
• 关键词：Maternal environment ; Ram lambs ; Semen characteristics ; Reproduction
• 刊名：Small Ruminant Research
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：94_09214488
• 类别：abs
• 出版时间：April, 2012
• 卷：103
• 期：2-3
• 页码：200-204
• 文件大小：225 K

摘要

The effects of different maternal uterine environments on the reproductive characteristics of Cheviot and Suffolk ram lambs were investigated. Thirty-two, singleton, male lambs born following AI and embryo transfer were allocated to four groups: Cheviot lambs born to Cheviot ewes (CinC), Suffolk lambs born to Cheviot ewes (SinC), Cheviot lambs born to Suffolk ewes (CinS) and Suffolk lambs born to Suffolk ewes (SinS). At days 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 of age, the live weight (LW), scrotal circumference (SC), testis length (TL) and testicular diameter (TD) of all lambs were recorded. From 150 days of age, semen samples were collected by electro-ejaculation and characteristics of the spermatozoa evaluated, including wave motion, semen density and sperm morphology for major and minor defects. The mean lamb LW for the period between 120 and 240 days of age for the CinS lambs (29.3 卤 1.64 kg) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the SinS (36.5 卤 1.40 kg). The left and right TD in the CinC and SinS were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than for the SinC and CinS lambs. Plasma testosterone concentrations for the SinC (260 卤 17 pg/ml) lambs were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the other treatment groups. Scrotal circumference (SC), left and right testicular length (TL), and semen characteristics were not significantly different between the four groups of lambs. LW and semen characteristics significantly improved as the lambs increased (p < 0.01) in age. With increasing age, the major and the minor morphological defects of the spermatozoa significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Results suggest that the pre-natal uterine environment does affect the live weight, testicular diameter and blood testosterone, but has no effect on the semen characteristics of the post-natal lambs.