Swimming speed and fertilisation rates of ram sperm from high and low prolificacy populations

R.W. Moore; M.C. Wilson and D.M. Duganzich

Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station, Hamilton; Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland and Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1985, 45: 55-58

A study in 1980 showed that rams from a high prolificacy flock (Waihora) were more successful than rams from a low prolificacy flock (Whatawhata fertility control) in fertilising ewes by copulation. In this study translational swimming speeds of ram sperm in caprogen at 39°C were measured by twin-beam laser velocimetry.

The mean swimming speed of the Waihora ram sperm was slower in both years (99 v 144 µm/s, P<0.01, 1981; 11 v 144 µm/s, P<0.05, 1982). Seven rams were common to both years; the between year ram repeatability in swimming speed was 0.92 (P<0.001). Within year ram repeatabilities were 0.22 in 1981 and 0.45 in 1982.

Other semen traits (flash frequency, flash time, sperm concentration and motility score) did not differ between ram flocks in both years.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Rams; prolificacy; fertilisation rates; copulation; sperm; swimming speed; laser

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Last Updated 03-05-1997