Preliminary report on scrotal circumference and semen parameters in fertile adult Omani rams

Abstract

Sheep are one of the important livestock species in the Sultanate of Oman. There is one major breed of sheep in Oman. At present, the breeding rams are selected on the basis of physical appearance. No breeding soundness examination (BSE) is performed before animals are used for breeding. The objective of the preliminary study was to evaluate reproductive potential of Omani rams utilizing established criteria for BSE. Eleven rams one to five years old were evaluated for breeding soundness, including physical examination, body weight (BW), scrotal circumference (SC), semen collection and evaluation. Scrotal circumference (25.50 ± 1.52 cm) of rams weighing 54.9 0kg (± 1.70) was smaller than reported in other breeds. Semen parameters including volume (0.84± 0.12 ml), sperm mass activity (2.64±0.17 of 3.0), sperm motility (76.82 ± 2.05%), sperm concentration (1.91± 0.31 billion/ml), and normal sperm (97.18 ± 0.33%) were within normal range. Study of larger number of rams is needed to establish the minimum and maximum BSE criteria for Omani rams.