In vitro Fertilisation Capacity of Frozen Crossbred Bull Semen Cryopreserved During Different Seasons in Kerala

Abstract

Background: Assessment of semen quality of bulls in frozen semen stations is of paramount importance as they are used for inseminating large number of cattle. The present study was conducted to assess the in vitro fertilisation capacity of crossbred bull semen cryopreserved during different seasons in Kerala as reports of such an evaluation are scarce.Methods: Semen samples from six crossbred bulls of same exotic inheritance, cryopreserved during rainy, post monsoon and summer seasons were procured from KLDB, Dhoni. The collected samples were evaluated for their in vitro fertilisation potential.Result: Hot dry summer season in Kerala adversely affects the fertilisation capacity of spermatozoa. Rainy season was observed to be the most favourable season for good quality semen production and post monsoon season was intermediate between summer and rainy season. It can be concluded from the present investigation that semen cryopreserved during summer season have lower fertilisation and cleavage rate than rainy and post monsoon season. This might be due to the harmful effect of significantly higher average maximum temperature and lower relative humidity occurred in the area during summer season on spermatogenesis.