Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

SPERM DENSITY AND VOLUME

• Although capacity to produce sperm in bulls is often determined by measurement of scrotal circumference, ejaculate volume and density (Sperm output) provide meaningful information about a bull’s capacity to produce sperm, especially when they are on a regular semen collection schedule with the use of artificial vagina, as in semen collection centers.
• It provides some assurance that bull is capable of producing good ejaculates.
• Frequent ejaculation results in lower average volume, and when two ejaculates are obtained consecutively, the second usually has the lower volume.
• Small volume is not harmful, but if accompanied by a low sperm concentration, total output declines.

Volume of semen is an important measurement in BSE but it varies with age, size and breed of the animal and also with semen collection method and number of ejaculation.