Brushing rams before and during electroejaculation improves sperm motility and kinetics with slight changes in stress biomarkers.

The aim of this study was to determine whether brushing rams before and during electroejaculation (EE) reduces their stress response and improves the characteristics of the ejaculate. A single person brushed each ram for 5 min daily, for 15 days, in an individual pen. Semen was collected from five rams brushed before and during EE by the same brusher, while the other five were electroejaculated without being brushed.

A single administration of carbetocin before electroejaculation increases the insemination doses produced from each ejaculate in rams.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of carbetocin administration (a long-acting analog of oxytocin) 20 or 10 min before electroejaculation (EE) on the duration of semen collection procedure, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the ejaculate, and stress biomarkers in rams. Semen was collected from 12 Corriedale rams (age, 2.5-5.

Semen collection and ejaculation trigger changes in the blood flow of the reproductive system in rams.

The aim of this study was to determine if ejaculation modifies the testicular and accessory sex glands' blood flow after ejaculation, and if those changes differ according to the process that leads to ejaculation. Twelve adult Corriedale rams were used and assigned at random to the four procedures that lead to ejaculation: (G1) electroejaculation; (G2) artificial vagina; (G3) transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands; (G4) natural mating. Hemodynamic characteristics evaluation of the male reproductive system was conducted immediately before and at 30 and 90 min after ejaculation.

Time of day modified the time required for semen collection with electroejaculation and slightly affected the quality of fresh semen in rams.

The aim was to compare some stress responses to electroejaculation (EE), and the quality of fresh semen, when ram semen is collected at dawn (06:00 h), noon (12:00 h), or evening (18:00 h). Twelve Corriedale rams were used, and semen was collected from four rams at each study time on three different days, with a Latin-square design. The time required for EE, the number of vocalizations emitted, heart rate, and rectal temperature were recorded, and fresh semen was evaluated.

Single or repeated immunization against GnRH fails to completely abolish spermatogenesis in dwarf bucks (Capra hircus).

In both captive wildlife and production animals is important to develop strategies for population control. Immunization against GnRH is an easy and inexpensive immunocastration method that reduces the concentration of testosterone and decreases sperm quality. However, its effectiveness depends on the species and repetition of the treatment.

Administration of carbetocin-a long-acting oxytocin analogue-before sperm collection by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands in bucks (Capra hircus) and ibexes (Capra pyrenaica).

Transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is a technique that allows collecting semen requiring few electrical stimuli or even no pulse. A long-acting analogue of oxytocin (carbetocin, 0.1 mg) was i.

Using transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands for buck semen collection yields semen with greater cryoresistance than electroejaculation alone during the breeding season.

The cryoresistance of bucks' semen collected by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) and electroejaculation (EE) was compared during the breeding season (Study 1) or the late non-breeding season (Study 2). Semen was collected from 10 Gabon bucks with both methods in each season and then frozen according to a standardized protocol. The time required for ejaculation, the number of electrical pulses applied, the sum of the electrical pulses applied∗voltage and the total number of vocalizations emitted during the collection by each animal were recorded.

Seasonality of the stress response in goat bucks when there is use of electroejaculation for semen collection.

Electroejaculation (EE) is frequently used to collect semen, but this procedure is both stressful and painful. In seasonal-breeding species the sensitivity to stressors might vary with season of the year when semen collection occurs, therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the responses when imposing the EE procedure, stress response to EE and fresh semen characteristics in goat bucks throughout the year. Semen was collected using EE from goat bucks once in autumn (mid-breeding season), winter (transition to the non-breeding season), spring (non-breeding season), and summer (beginning of the breeding season).

Chronic use of a GnRH agonist (deslorelin) or immunization against GnRH: effects on testicular function and sperm quality of bucks.

Chronic use of GnRH agonists and immunization against GnRH have been used as reversible contraceptive methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of both treatments to inhibit reproductive function of adult bucks, in terms of strength and duration of the effects. We used 9 control untreated bucks (CON), 7 bucks treated chronically with a GnRH agonist (subcutaneous implants with 7.

Sperm collection by electroejaculation in small ruminants: A review on welfare problems and alternative techniques.

There are different perspectives on whether there should be use of electroejaculation (EE) for semen collection because it can be stressful and painful for the males when this technique is imposed. In the present review it is examined 1) the effects of EE on animal welfare and semen quality in domestic and wild small ruminants, 2) benefits and limitations of administering anaesthetics and sedatives prior to EE, 3) advantages/disadvantages of transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) as an alternative to EE, and 4) benefits of administering hormones, such as oxytocin or PGF2α analogues (which stimulate the contractility of the male accessory sex glands), prior to EE and TUMASG. In general, the administration of anaesthetics, sedatives or hormones reduces the pain and stress caused by EE, and can improve sperm quality, but results may vary depending on the species.

Daily administration of a GnRH analogue enhances sperm quality in bucks during the non-breeding season.

The aim of this study was to determine if daily administration of a GnRH analogue (buserelin acetate) to bucks during the non-breeding season increases testosterone concentration and improves sperm quality. Five bucks received a daily dose of buserelin for 10 days, starting on Day 0 (first administration), and another five bucks remained as controls. Testosterone concentrations were greater in treated than in control bucks during the first hours after buserelin administration (P = 0.

Rearing bucks isolated from females affects negatively their sexual behavior when adults.

In some domestic ruminants, contact with females is necessary for normal development of sexual behavior. The aims of this experiment were to determine if rearing bucks isolated from does affects negatively their sexual behavior when adults, and if this negative effect is overcome after four short contacts with females. Sixteen Saanen male kids were maintained during one year in two groups: kids reared in permanent direct contact with four adult goats (FEM; n = 7), and kids that remained isolated from females (ISO; n = 9).

Administration of cloprostenol and oxytocin before electroejaculation in goat bucks reduces the needed amount of electrical stimulation without affecting seminal quality.

Electroejaculation (EE) is a widely used semen collection technique; but, it is stressful and painful for the animals. Considering these concerns, it may be important to develop practices to decrease the negative implications of EE on animals. Oxytocin and prostaglandin-F2alpha (PGF2α) stimulate the contractions of the muscles of the male genital tract.

Sperm collection by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands is less stressful than electroejaculation without altering sperm characteristics in conscious goat bucks.

In anesthetized non-domestic ruminants transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is an alternative method to collect semen slightly less stressful than electroejaculation (EE). However, some sperm characteristics are better when semen is collected with EE than with TUMASG. As anesthesia reduces the response to stressors, the advantages of TUMASG may be reduced in anesthetized animals, and thus, TUMASG may be even more advantageous in conscious animals.

Ejaculation does not contribute to the stress response to electroejaculation in sheep.

Electroejaculation procedures (EEPs) provoke stress; nevertheless, ejaculation produces physiological changes similar as those usually used to measure stress responses. The application of EEP to animals that cannot ejaculate-as ewes-may be useful to discriminate the responses induced by ejaculation from those provoked by EEP. The aim was to determine the stress response to EEP in rams and ewes.

Influence of seasonality and stimulus of oestrous does in bucks' aggressiveness.

Aggressiveness is directly related to testosterone concentration, which varies with seasons and in response to female stimulation. The aim was to determine if the frequency and pattern of agonistic interactions between bucks varies seasonally and in response to oestrous female stimulation. In the first study we characterized the pattern of agonistic interactions during feeding throughout a whole year in groups of Iberian ibex bucks; and in the second study, we determined the influence of oestrous does on the frequencies of agonistic behaviours between Gabon bucks in different seasons.

Continuous contact with females in estrus throughout the year enhances testicular activity and improves seminal traits of male goats.

The "female effect" consists in the stimulation of males' reproductive activity by different signals emitted by females. This stimulation leads to endocrine and behavioral changes that may modify the seasonal pattern of male ruminants. The aims of this experiment were (1) to describe the local reproductive seasonal pattern of Gabon bucks and (2) to determine if continuous chemical, auditory, and visual contact with does in estrus enhances bucks' testicular activity and improves seminal traits throughout the year and modify their seasonal pattern.

Oxytocin administration before sperm collection by transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands in mouflons and bucks.

Transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is an alternative technique for sperm collection which decreases negative animal welfare concerns of electroejaculation. However, quality of collected sperm with TUMASG is less than that collected by electroejaculation. Utilisation of TUMASG may not, however, induce strong muscular contractions, so administration of oxytocin before the procedure may improve sperm quality.

Grouping previously unknown bucks is a stressor with negative effects on reproduction.

Grouping previously unknown animals produces social stress, which might have negative effects on reproduction. The aims of the experiment were to determine if grouping unknown bucks (1) triggers a stress response and produces changes in body weight; (2) affects scrotal circumference, testosterone concentration, and semen quality; and (3) has differential effects between resident and introduced bucks. One group of nine Saanen bucks was transported and introduced (introduced bucks, group IG) to a group of eight Saanen bucks (resident bucks, group RG).

Homosexual behavior in male goats is more frequent during breeding season and in bucks isolated from females.

Male homosexual behavior is observed in many ruminant species; seasonality and isolation from females may affect the display of male-male sexual behavior. Our objectives were to determine whether: 1) homosexual behavior has a seasonal pattern in male goats (Capra hircus); 2) isolation from female goats influences the frequency of the display of homosexual behavior; and 3) the frequency of homosexual behaviors is related to testosterone concentration. Bucks were housed in a pen adjacent to another pen with 3 estrous goats (FC group) or in complete isolation from females (IF group).