RT Journal Article
T1 Seasonal changes in reproductive activity, sperm variables and sperm freezability in Blanca Andaluza bucks
A1 Gallego Calvo, María Lourdes
A1 Gatica Jorquera, María Carolina
A1 Santiago Moreno, Julian
A1 Guzmán Guerrero, José Luis
A1 Zarazaga Garcés, Luis Ángel
AB Interest in the preservation of endangered breeds such as the Blanca Andaluza goat, has increased and some steps should betherefore taken to ensure it. The study was designed to determine the seasonal reproductive pattern of Blanca Andaluza bucks, andwhether this affects the quality of their semen and its freezability over the year. Seven bucks were used and their body weight,testicular weight, plasma testosterone concentration and fresh sperm quality determined every week. The collected sperm wascryopreserved and stored; it was then thawed and the same sperm quality variables measured every fortnight. High plasma testosteroneconcentrations were recorded during the summer and autumn, and low concentrations were recorded during winter and spring(p<0.001). No differences were seen between seasons in terms of the percentage of bucks ejaculating, the percentage of active bucks,or ejaculate volume. However, the sperm concentration, the total number of sperm per ejaculate, and the values for most fresh spermvariables were lower during the winter period (at least p<0.05). After freezing-thawing, the quality of winter-collected sperm wasbetter, in some respects, than that of summer-collected sperm (at least p<0.05). These results reveal that Blanca Andaluza bucksshow seasonal reproductive activity in terms of their plasma testosterone concentration, but no clear change in their sexual behaviourbetween seasons was observed. The values of fresh sperm variables also vary over the year, reaching their lowest duringwinter. However, after freezing-thawing, winter-collected sperm is of overall better quality than sperm collected during the summer.
PB Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
SN 1695-971X
SN 2171-9292 (electrónico)
YR 2015
FD 2015
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10272/11626
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10272/11626
LA eng
NO Gallego Calvo, M.L.,  Gatica Jorquera, M.C., Santiago Moreno, J., Guzmán Guerrero, J.L., Zarazaga Garcés, L.A.: "Seasonal changes in reproductive activity, sperm variables and sperm freezability in Blanca Andaluza bucks". Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. Vol. 13, n. 4, (2015). DOI: 10.5424/sjar/2015134-8168
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 15 jul 2026