Abstract: Testicular ultrasonography and steroid concentrations (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate (DHEA-S), cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, testosterone) in hair were examined for their utility inthe bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE). Beef and dairy bulls (n = 16; 2.7 ± 0.4 years old;body condition score 3.2 ± 0.1) of five breeds were maintained under the same conditions at anaccredited semen collection center. Bulls underwent routine semen collection twice weekly for12 weeks and semen was processed and cryopreserved. Ultrasonography and hair sampling wereundertaken at the last semen collection. Bulls with homogeneous testicular parenchyma (n = 8) had ahigher (p < 0.05) percentage of motile sperm post-thawing compared with bulls with heterogeneousparenchyma (n = 8). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the hair concentrations of cortisol, DHEA-S,and testosterone between bulls with homogeneous and heterogeneous parenchyma. In bulls withhomogeneous parenchyma, hair DHEA-S concentration was positively correlated with percentagemotile sperm (R2 = 0.76), progressively motile sperm (R2 = 0.70), and motility yield (R2 = 0.71). Thefindings indicate that the integration of testicular ultrasonography and hair DHEA-S status in theBBSE could provide a more comprehensive assessment of indicative fertility in bulls. Additionally,ultrasonography can be used in the BBSE when the evaluation of semen parameters is not available.
Incorporation of Testicular Ultrasonography and Hair Steroid Concentrations in Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation
Cotticelli, Alessio;
2023-01-01
Abstract
Abstract: Testicular ultrasonography and steroid concentrations (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate (DHEA-S), cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, testosterone) in hair were examined for their utility inthe bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE). Beef and dairy bulls (n = 16; 2.7 ± 0.4 years old;body condition score 3.2 ± 0.1) of five breeds were maintained under the same conditions at anaccredited semen collection center. Bulls underwent routine semen collection twice weekly for12 weeks and semen was processed and cryopreserved. Ultrasonography and hair sampling wereundertaken at the last semen collection. Bulls with homogeneous testicular parenchyma (n = 8) had ahigher (p < 0.05) percentage of motile sperm post-thawing compared with bulls with heterogeneousparenchyma (n = 8). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the hair concentrations of cortisol, DHEA-S,and testosterone between bulls with homogeneous and heterogeneous parenchyma. In bulls withhomogeneous parenchyma, hair DHEA-S concentration was positively correlated with percentagemotile sperm (R2 = 0.76), progressively motile sperm (R2 = 0.70), and motility yield (R2 = 0.71). Thefindings indicate that the integration of testicular ultrasonography and hair DHEA-S status in theBBSE could provide a more comprehensive assessment of indicative fertility in bulls. Additionally,ultrasonography can be used in the BBSE when the evaluation of semen parameters is not available.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
