Bellin M E, Oyarzo J N, Hawkins H E, Zhang H, Smith R G, Forrest D W, Sprott L R, Ax R L
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
J Anim Sci. 1998 Aug;76(8):2032-9. doi: 10.2527/1998.7682032x.
A 30-kDa heparin-binding protein named fertility-associated antigen (FAA) was identified in sperm membranes of beef bulls with greater fertility potential. In a survey of 2,191 beef bulls, 88% had FAA present in sperm membranes (FAA-positive), and 12% were FAA-negative. In the first study, 54 Santa Gertrudis and 51 Santa Cruz bulls were grouped (1 to 14 bulls per group) according to FAA profiles and were bred to 2,403 cows at ratios of 1 bull: 25 cows. Fertility for 14 groups of FAA-positive bulls averaged 88%, whereas three groups of FAA-negative bulls impregnated 79% of the cows. Thus, FAA-positive bulls were nine percentage points more (P < .01) fertile than FAA-negative bulls. In the second study, 2-yr-old Santa Cruz bulls (n = 26) were grouped according to FAA profiles and serving capacity. The fertility of the group of 12 high-serving-capacity, FAA-positive bulls was 87% of 270 cows. The group of six FAA-negative bulls with high serving capacity impregnated 78% of 143 cows. Among the groups of bulls with high serving capacity, FAA-positive bulls were nine percentage points more (P < .05) fertile than FAA-negative bulls. The group of eight FAA-positive bulls with low serving capacity impregnated the least (P < .01) percentage (69%) of 238 cows. Serving capacity of bulls should be considered when optimizing fertility potential. Among bulls with acceptable physical characteristics and serving capacity, determination of FAA profiles in sperm can be used as a tool to identify subfertile bulls.
在具有较高繁殖潜力的肉用公牛精子膜中鉴定出一种名为生育相关抗原（FAA）的30 kDa肝素结合蛋白。在对2191头肉用公牛的调查中，88%的公牛精子膜中存在FAA（FAA阳性），12%为FAA阴性。在第一项研究中，根据FAA特征将54头圣格特鲁迪斯公牛和51头圣克鲁斯公牛分组（每组1至14头公牛），并以1头公牛配25头母牛的比例与2403头母牛配种。14组FAA阳性公牛的受胎率平均为88%，而3组FAA阴性公牛使79%的母牛受孕。因此，FAA阳性公牛的受胎率比FAA阴性公牛高9个百分点（P <.01）。在第二项研究中，根据FAA特征和配种能力对2岁的圣克鲁斯公牛（n = 26）进行分组。12头高配种能力、FAA阳性公牛组对270头母牛的受胎率为87%。6头高配种能力的FAA阴性公牛组使143头母牛中的78%受孕。在高配种能力的公牛组中，FAA阳性公牛的受胎率比FAA阴性公牛高9个百分点（P <.05）。8头低配种能力的FAA阳性公牛组使238头母牛受孕的比例最低（P <.01），为69%。在优化繁殖潜力时应考虑公牛的配种能力。在具有可接受身体特征和配种能力的公牛中，测定精子中的FAA特征可作为识别繁殖力低下公牛的一种工具。
