Effect of storage temperature on the motility of west African dwarf ram semen

Abstract

Eight (8) West African Dwarf rams were used to examine the effect of storage days and storage temperature on the motility of ram semen. One standard diluent was used throughout the four replicates (R). The experiment lasted for five weeks. Semen was collected weekly from the rams using an electro-ejaculator. Each day the same diluent was used to store the semen under room temperature of 27°C and refrigerator temperature of 5°C. The storage days result revealed significant differences (P<0.01) in the mean values of motile spermatozoa in all the trials. In week 1 the motility of the spermatozoa dropped from 70.00±2.5% at day one to 1.25± 1.17% at day 4. A similar trend was observed in weeks 2, 3,4 and 5 respectively. Semen stored under refrigerator has significantly higher value (P<0.01, P<0.05) when compared to semen stored under room temperature. This implies that refrigerator temperature preserved ram sperms motility better than room temperature under the same storage diluent.

Keywords: Effect, Storage temperature, Motility, Ram Semen