Effect of age and body weight on semen volume of Murrah bulls

Abstract

Semen volume and factors influencing the same were analyzed among Murrah bulls under Tamil Nadu environmental conditions. A total of 4563 observations on first and second ejaculate collected from 53 Murrah bulls, maintained at Buffalo Frozen Semen Station, Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd, Erode was utilized for this study. The possible factors such as age and body weight which influence the semen volume were studied. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out after angular transformation of the percentage as per Snedecor and Cochran. While expressing the mean and standard error, the angles were reconverted into percentages to a precision of two decimals. The statistical analysis was also carried out by using least-squares procedurewherever unequal and disproportionate numbers were encountered. The overall least-squares means (±S.E) of semen volume (ml) of first ejaculate was 3.24 ± 0.04 and the corresponding value was 2.99 ± 0.03 for the second ejaculate. Semen volume per collection among Murrah bulls increased positively with increase in age and body weight.