Sylla Lakamy, Palombi Claudio, Stradaioli Giuseppe, Vagniluca Antonio, Monaci Maurizio
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Theriogenology. 2015 Mar 15;83(5):779-85. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.11.011. Epub 2014 Nov 15.
Although semen quality is one of the major traits that influence breeding soundness examination outcomes in bulls, field conditions occasionally do not allow for the collection of semen samples by means of an artificial vagina. The aims of the present study were to report the results of a large number of semen collections that were performed via the transrectal massage (TRM) of the accessory sexual glands of Italian yearling beef bulls and compare this semen collection method to the artificial vagina (AV) method in term of breeding soundness examination outcomes; furthermore, we determined whether the breed affected the semen characteristics. In the TRM group (n = 475), the semen samples were collected via TRM of the accessory sexual glands, and in the AV group (n = 502), the AV method was used. In the TRM group, semen samples were obtained from 81.3% of the bulls and penile protrusion was observed in 87.6% of the animals during semen collection. The sperm concentrations (920.5 ± 439.0 vs. 281.0 ± 259.8 × 10(6)/mL) and the percentages of total abnormal spermatozoa (22.8 ± 15.0 vs. 18.8 ± 12.9) were significantly higher in the AV group than those in the TRM group. The percentage of bulls that did not meet the minimum requirement for normal cells (≥70%) was 6.2% higher in the AV group than that in the TRM group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the samples collected from Chianina bulls by TRM exhibited a lower percentage of motile sperm and a higher percentage of abnormal spermatozoa when compared with the other two breeds. The major drawbacks of the TRM technique were the inability to conduct complete evaluation of the libido and mating ability of the yearling bulls, a significant reduction of the number of spermatozoa collected, and an increase in the variability of the semen characteristics due to breed. In conclusion, despite the drawbacks, TRM guarantees that semen evaluation can be conducted in cases in which the semen samples cannot be collected with the AV method.
虽然精液质量是影响公牛繁殖健全性检查结果的主要特征之一，但田间条件有时不允许通过人工阴道采集精液样本。本研究的目的是报告通过经直肠按摩（TRM）意大利一岁肉用公牛附属性腺进行大量精液采集的结果，并在繁殖健全性检查结果方面将这种精液采集方法与人工阴道（AV）方法进行比较；此外，我们还确定了品种是否会影响精液特征。在TRM组（n = 475）中，通过附属性腺的TRM采集精液样本，在AV组（n = 502）中，使用AV方法。在TRM组中，81.3%的公牛获得了精液样本，在精液采集过程中，87.6%的动物观察到阴茎突出。AV组的精子浓度（920.5±439.0对281.0±259.8×10⁶/mL）和总异常精子百分比（22.8±15.0对18.8±12.9）显著高于TRM组。AV组中未达到正常细胞最低要求（≥70%）的公牛百分比比TRM组高6.2%（P < 0.05）。此外，与其他两个品种相比，通过TRM从契安尼纳公牛采集的样本中，活动精子百分比更低，异常精子百分比更高。TRM技术的主要缺点是无法对一岁公牛的性欲和交配能力进行全面评估，采集的精子数量显著减少，以及由于品种导致精液特征变异性增加。总之，尽管存在缺点，但TRM保证了在无法用AV方法采集精液样本的情况下仍可进行精液评估。
