• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 1985

Eight 2-yr old bulls from Artificial Breeding Center, NLCF were used to determine the effectof collection frequency on semen characteristics and sexual activity. Two successive ejaculates per day were collected by artificial vagina for 4 weeks on weekly or twice a week. Total ejaculate volume included 2nd ejaculates for one time and two time bulls was 6.8ml and 6.0ml, but there was no significant difference between collection intervals. Sperm concentration of one time and two time bulls averaged 0.79$\times$109/ml and 0.89$\times$109/ml, respectively. Total sperm per ejaculate was 5.14$\times$109 for one time bulls and 5.45$\times$10 for two time bulls. Two time bulls had slight more sperm per ml and ejaculate than one time bulls, but there were no significant differences between two group bulls. Sperm motility and semen pH of two time bulls was slightly better than that of one time bulls. In changes of bulk minerals in semen, solium concentration of two time bulls was similar to that of one time bulls. Potassium and calcium was more concentrated in one time bulls than in two time bulls, but these concentrations did not differ significantly. Libido score for two time bulls was higher than that for one time bulls. However, there was no difference between two groups and these scores did not change for 4 weeks in two goups. Total time to 2nd ejaculation was 16.3 sec for one time bulls and 20.5 sec for two time bulls.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2009

The Objective of this study was to compare performances of proven and young holstein bulls bred in Korea. Proven bulls are categorized into the imported and the korean ones. Data from 148,329 heads of daughters of 1,128 bulls from 1990 to 2004 were used in this study. Proven bulls showed higher milk yield than young bulls in same year. Young bulls, however, always yielded more milk than korean bulls when proven bulls were categorized into the imported and the korean ones. Hence, it was proven that dairy bull selection program had properly been functioned in Korea. Selected bulls, which were korean proven bulls and young bulls, yielded higher milk fat than imported bulls as the selection was weighted on the yield of the milk fat. This comparison was based on the performances of daughters without the consideration of the semen price. Semen price of the imported proven bulls were higher than the korean proven bulls and the semen of young bulls was free. Hence, the performances of korean bulls with the consideration of the preferential effect would be much higher than others, and further studies are necessary.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.416-421
• /
• 1997

The effect of imported young bulls on the genetic progress was examined in the Holstein dairy cattle population in Japan. The effect of the difference of mean genetic merit between imported and domestic young bulls ("genetic difference") was recognized on the genetic progress of the domestic animals in the early stage of selection. On the other hand, the genetic progress of domestic animals were remarkably influenced by the genetic trend of imported young bulls ("genetic trend") in the later stage. Import of young bulls originated from high genetic level of young bulls originated from high genetic level population improved the genetic progress of domestic population. But, the increase of the immigration ratio of imported young bulls ("immigration ratio") did not influence linearly on the progress of the genetic merit of domestic animals. Even if "immigration ratio" was 100%, the genetic merit of domestic animals could not overcome the one of imported young bulls. In the later stage of selection, the genetic merit of domestic animals ran parallel to those of imported young bulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2007

The objective of the study was to compare ranking of Sahiwal bulls selected on the basis of highest lactation milk yield of their dams with their estimated breeding values (EBVs) using an animal model. Data on 23,761 lactation milk yield records of 5,936 cows from five main Livestock Experiment Stations in Punjab province of Pakistan (1964-2004) were used for the study. At present the young A.I bulls are required to be from A-category bull-dams. Dams were categorized as A, B, C and D if they had highest lactation milk yield of ${\geq}$2,700, 2,250-2,699, 1,800-2,249 and <1,800 litres, respectively. The EBVs for lactation milk yield were estimated for all the animals using an individual animal model having fixed effect of herd-year and season of calving and random effect of animal. Fixed effect of parity and random effect of permanent environment were incorporated when multiple lactation were used. There were 396 young bulls used for semen collection and A.I during 1973-2004. However, progeny with lactation yields recorded, were available only for 91 bulls and dams could be traced for only 63 bulls. Overall lactation milk yield averaged 1,440.8 kg. Milk yield was 10% heritable with repeatability of 39%. Ranking bulls on highest lactation milk yield of their dams, the in-vogue criteria of selecting bulls, had a rank correlation of 0.167 (p<0.190) with ranking based on EBVs from animal model analysis. Bulls' EBVs for all lactations had rank correlation of 0.716 (p<0.001) with EBVs based on first lactation milk yield and 0.766 (p<0.001) with average EBVs of dam and sire (pedigree index). Ranking of bulls on highest lactation yield of their dams has no association with their ranking based on animal model evaluation. Young Sahiwal bulls should be selected on the basis of pedigree index instead of highest lactation yield of dams. This can help improve the genetic potential of the breed accruing to conservation and development efforts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.337-342
• /
• 1995

Two feeding trials were conducted to determine the effect of molasses feeding on the growth performances of bulls. In the first experiment, the straw of a control diet of straw and urea was replaced by molasses of 150 g ($M_{150}$) or $300g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ ($M_{300}$). The three diets were fed ad libitum to three groups of bulls having five in each and the dietary responses were statistically analyzed in a simple design. The bulls were given fishmeal ($30g{\cdot}hd^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$), wheat bran (0.5% of Liveweight, LW) and allowed grazing for $5hrs{\cdot}d^{-1}$. Molasses supplementation significantly (p < 0.001) increased the dry matter intake (DMI) of the bulls of $M_{150}$ (35.8g) and of $M_{300}$ (42.9g) than the control ($30.4g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$). The daily LW gain of the bulls of the $M_{150}$ (982g) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the bulls of the control or of the $M_{300}$ diet. In the second experiment, a control group of four bulls was fed a straw diet. Treatment two groups, having four bulls in each, were fed a mixed diet of Leucaena leucocephala and Setaria splendida(1:1, DM basis) with (LSM) and without (LS) molasses at $100g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$. The dietary responses were statistically analyzed in a simple design. The bulls of the LSM diet had significantly (p < 0.05) higher DMI, DM digestibility and LW gain ($128g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$, $663g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ and $419g{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively) than the bulls of the LS diet ($98.3g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$, $583g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ and $292g{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively). But the differences between the LSM and the control were nonsignificant. It may be concluded that molasses may be utilized as supplement to straw at $150g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ or forages at $100g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ diet for the profitable beef production from young growing bulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1554-1561
• /
• 2014

Present study analyzed the changes in peripheral blood testosterone concentrations and testicular cytogram in relation to age and semen quality in crossbred males. Three different age groups of crossbred males viz. bull calves (6 months, n = 5), young bulls (15 months, n = 5) and adult bulls (4 to 6 years, n = 8) were utilized for the study. Testicular fine needle aspiration cytology technique was used to quantify testicular cytology and their indices. Peripheral blood testosterone concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Semen samples collected from adult bulls were microscopically evaluated for quality parameters. Mean peripheral blood testosterone concentrations in bull calves, young bulls and adult bulls were $2.28{\pm}0.09ng/mL$, $1.42{\pm}0.22ng/mL$ and $5.66{\pm}1.08ng/mL$ respectively, and that in adult bulls were significantly different (p<0.01) from young bulls and bull calves. There was no significant difference between the proportion of different testicular cells in bull calves and young bulls. Between young and adult bulls, significant differences (p<0.01) were observed in the proportion of spermatocytes, spermatozoa, and sperm: Sertoli cell ratio. The proportions of Sertoli cells showed a significant difference (p<0.01) between the three age groups. The number of primary spermatocytes had a positive correlation with peripheral blood testosterone concentrations in bull calves (r = 0.719, p<0.01). Number of Sertoli cells per 100 germ cells was negatively correlated with blood testosterone concentration in young bulls (r = -0.713, p<0.01). Among different semen parameters in adult bulls, ejaculate volume (r = 0.790, p<0.05) had positive relationship, and sperm motility had significant negative correlation (r = -0.711, p<0.05) with testosterone concentrations. The number of Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell index had a positive correlation with various semen quality parameters (p<0.001). Results of the present study conclude that number of Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell index are good indicators of semen quality, but peripheral blood testosterone concentrations may not have a direct relationship with various seminal attributes in crossbred bulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.598-604
• /
• 2009

This work was carried out to study the carcass characteristics, the chemical composition and the fatty acid profile in Longissimus muscle (LM) of bull breeds Nellore, NEL (11), Caracu, CAR (12) and Holstein-Friesian, HFR (12) finished in a feedlot. The bulls were fed twice a day with corn silage, cotton meal, cracked corn, urea, limestone and mineral salt. NEL and CAR bulls had similar (p>0.05) final weight and hot carcass weight. However, NEL and CAR bulls had higher (p<0.05) final weight and hot carcass weight than HFR bulls. Carcass hot dressing, carcass conformation, cushion thickness, Longissimus muscle area and texture were similar (p>0.05) among NEL, CAR and HFR bulls. NEL and HFR bulls had higher (p<0.05) carcass length in comparison to the CAR breed. Nellore breed had higher (p<0.05) leg length in comparison to CAR and HFR breeds. Leg length was similar (p>0.05) between CAR and HFR breeds. Thickness fat, color and marbling score were lower (p<0.05) in NEL breed in comparison to CAR and HFR breeds. LM of NEL bulls had higher (p<0.05) meat moisture content in comparison to CAR and HFR bulls. In contrast, lipid content was lower (p<0.10) in HFR bulls. LM ash and crude protein contents were similar (p>0.05) among breeds. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were higher (p<0.10) in HFR animals. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6, n-3 and PUFA/SFA ratio were similar (p>0.05) among the different breeds. N-6/n-3 ratio was higher (p<0.05) in CAR animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.303-308
• /
• 2013

Subfertility problems are encountered frequently in the cattle and buffalo bulls commercially maintained for semen production in dairy farms and under field conditions for natural insemination. Reports are scarce on the incidence of subfertility in breeding bulls, especially in India. The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of the male reproductive anomalies leading to disposal of bovine bulls at GADVASU dairy farm, Ludhiana, Punjab (India). Data on frequency of various subfertility and disposal pattern of bulls maintained at the dairy farm, GADVASU, were collected for 12 yrs (1999 to 2010) and compiled from different record registers. Percentage of bulls that produced freezable semen (out of reserved ones) was less in cattle (25.641%) as compared to that of buffalo (30.4%). Various subfertility traits like poor libido and unacceptable seminal profile were found to be the significant reasons (p<0.01) for culling of the breeding bulls. Inadequate sex drive and poor semen quality were the main contributing factors for bull disposal in cattle whereas poor semen freezability was most frequently observed in buffalo bulls. All the male reproductive traits were significantly different (p<0.05) for the periods of birth, except for semen volume, initial motility (IM), age at last semen collection (ALSC) and age at disposal. The ages at first and last semen collection as well as freezing (i.e. AFSC, ALSC and AFSF, ALSF, respectively) and age at disposal (AD) were higher in buffalo. The spermatological parameters and semen production period (SPP) were higher in cattle. The age at first semen donation and breeding period could be reduced by introducing the bulls to training at an early age. The results revealed an increasing trend in individual motility (IM) while semen volume, AFSC, AFSF, AD, FSPP, SPP, ALSC and ALSF showed a decreasing, however, not a definite trend, over the periods. The semen donation traits like, AFSF, of the cattle and buffalo bulls could be predicted from the AFSC, using prediction equation derived in the present study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 1993

Sixteen Korean native bulls weighing about 211 kg were randomly allotted to investigate the effect of different dietary calcium levels on performance. Feeding period was divided into growing period and fattening period for 180 days. Four calcium levels (0.44, 0.58, 0.72 and 0.86%) were used to each period. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.72% calcium had greater body weight gain and consumed more feed than bulls fed diets containing 0.44, 0.58 and 0.86% calcium and improved in feed efficiency. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.44% calcium were worst in performance. It can be concluded that Korean native bulls in growing and fattening period required no more than 0.72% calcium in diet that contained 0.55% phosphorus, and appeared that when ratio of calcium to phosphorus intake was 1.45, performance of Korean native bulls was most beneficial.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.497-507
• /
• 1993

Four truncation selection schemes (SSs) were framed to predict and compare the age structures and genetic responses under the influence of various factor employing the scheme-specific algorithms. Two paths of selection, sires (bulls' sires) and dams (bulls' dams) to breed young bulls were considered. Among variable factors, four levels (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) of precision of evaluation, five levels (0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 genetic standard deviation) of genetic differences among age classes and 4 levels of proportions selected (for bulls' sire, 0.05, 0.10, 0.125, 0.25, and for bulls' dams 0.02, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.10) contemplated on both paths of selection. The number of age classes for bulls' dams and bulls' sires were 4 or 8 and 2 or 4, respectively. The stayability across age classes for bulls' dams was assumed to be 0.80 or 0.60. The candidates for selection for bulls' sires were equally distributed (0.5 or 0.25) across the age classes. The SS1 (selection on same proportions as candidates' distribution) revealed longest generation lengths and lowest yearly genetic responses. The average ages were youngest and yearly genetic responses were highest in SS4 (selection at each age-specific truncation point with the same average genetic superiority of selected parents across the ages) and followed by SS3 (selection at each agespecific truncation point with same predicted genetic values) and SS2 (selection at common truncation point on phenotypic values) in a population with overlapping generations. The results revealed the importance of choosing suitable selection scheme to acquire maximum yearly genetic responses especially when the genetic differences among age classes are large and the precision of evaluation is relatively low.