Publications by authors named "J A MORRELL"
Article Synopsis
- Extraction of epididymal sperm from bulls, particularly from rare or endangered breeds, is essential but often results in low-quality samples.
- Two methods were tested for extracting spermatozoa: a small incision in the epididymis and flushing the epididymis.
- Both methods yielded similar sperm quality metrics before and after thawing, indicating that either method is effective for gathering bull epididymal spermatozoa.
The pioneers of next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatic analyses initiated a new era in microbiology research by offering profound insights into bacterial microbiome communities. In the pig farming sector, while considerable attention has been devoted to the gut microbiome and the microbiome of the female reproductive tract, research on the microbiome of boar semen remains limited. Nonetheless, published studies have provided valuable insights, serving as important references and sparking ideas for further investigations into the seminal microbiome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Since boar spermatozoa show a marked deterioration in sperm quality when cooled, insemination doses are usually stored at 16-18 °C. However, maintaining this temperature during transport of semen doses is challenging, particularly during the summer months. An alternative could be to store the doses at 4 °C if cold-shock to the sperm could be prevented.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to assess the ability of camel spermatozoa to bind in the Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA), to determine if conventional sperm quality parameters, in vitro fertilization capacity, and precursor of A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 4 (proAKAP4) values correlate with HBA results. The potential to predict post-thaw fertilization performance from HBA for fresh dromedary camel sperm was also evaluated. Semen samples were collected and assessed both fresh and post thawing, at 0 h and 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- High testosterone levels in male alpacas may lead to coarser fiber and affect their mating success, prompting a study to explore factors influencing fiber quality and male mating behavior in Peruvian alpacas.
- The research involved 189 male alpacas in the Andes, analyzing fiber samples and evaluating factors like age, body condition score (BCS), and fiber color, while correlating these with fertility data from some males.
- Results highlighted that younger alpacas had finer fibers, better BCS improved certain fiber characteristics, and a link was found between fiber curvature and male fertility, suggesting strategic breeding could enhance fiber quality in alpacas.