The influence of bulls on the quality of semen of holstein-friesian bulls

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of the bull i.e. genotype on the observed traits of semen quality and to determine whether there are significant differences between bulls in terms of semen production. The study included 9 bulls of the Holstein-Friesian breed from the Livestock Center of PKB Corporation. The effect of the bull on certain semen properties (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility in the native ejaculate, sperm dilution, number of doses per ejaculate, sperm motility after thawing) was analyzed and data were collected during 2014. During this period, a total of 326 ejaculates from 9 bulls were collected and average values for the tested properties were determined and the effect of the bull on those properties was analyzed. The results showed that there was a very significant effect of the bull (p<0.001) on the degree of sperm dilution and the number of doses per ejaculate. Significant influence (p<0.01) was found in ejaculate volume traits, sperm concentration, sperm motility in the native ejaculate, while in sperm motility after thawing no significant effect (p> 0.05) of the bull was determined. The LSD test (Least Significant Difference) was used to compare the bulls and the results of this test showed in most cases significant differences between the bulls.