TESTICULAR MEASUREMENTS AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MALE MAGHERBI CAMELS WITH DIFFERENT AGES DURING THE RUTTING AND NON- RUTTING SEASONS OF THE YEAR

Sarhan, Doaa M.A.; Daader, A.H.; Zeidan, A.E.B.

doi:10.21608/zjar.2024.346059

TESTICULAR MEASUREMENTS AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MALE MAGHERBI CAMELS WITH DIFFERENT AGES DURING THE RUTTING AND NON- RUTTING SEASONS OF THE YEAR

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Anim. Prod. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

² Anim. Prod. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

³ Anim. Prod. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Cent., Dokki, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/zjar.2024.346059

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different ages (<4-8, <8-12 and < 12-16 years) during the rutting and non- rutting seasons on the testicular measurements and semen characteristics of the male Maghrebi camels. The results showed that the testes weight, testicular volume and scrotal circumference were significantly (P<0.05) increased of the male Maghrebi camels at <8 to 12 years during the rutting compared to non- rutting season of the camels specially at <4 to 8 and <12 to 16 years of age. However, testes tone firmer score was insignificantly increased during the rutting compared to non-rutting season or the male camel at <4 to 8 and< 12 to 16 years of age. Moreover, semen colour was Creamy white, Creamy white and Milky white during the rutting season.While, it was Creamy white, Watery white and Light Milky White during non-rutting season of the male Maghrebi camels at different ages(<4 to 8,< 8 to 12 or <12 to 16 years), respectively. Similarly, seminal hydrogen- ion concentration (pH) was insignificantly different in both therutting and non-rutting seasons at different ages. Semen ejaculate- volume, percentage of sperm motility and sperm-cell concentration (x10⁶/ml) of the male camels at <4 to 8 or < 8 to 12 years were significantly (P<0.05) higher than at <12 to 16 years of age either at the rutting or non-rutting season. While, the percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, acrosome damage and chromatin damage were significantly (P<0.05) increased of the male camel at <12 to 16 years of age either at the rutting or non-rutting season specially at <4 to 8 and<8 to 12 years of age.In conclusion, testicular measurements and semen quality of the male Maghrebi camels at <4 to 8 or <8 to 12 years of age during the rutting season were improved compared with the camels at <12 to 16 years of age during non-rutting season.

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