Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Thesis
Date of this Version
3-1953
Citation
Thesis (M.S.)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1953. Department of Dairy Husbandry.
Abstract
This investigation was made to determine whether fructose concentration and fructolysis of bovine semen are related to fertilizing capacity.
Forty-seven semen samples from 13 bulls were analyzed for fructose content and rate of fructolysis by a colorimetric method. A total of 1225 first services in routine artificial breeding resulted from these collections.
Significant relationships were shown between 60-90 day non-return rate and initial fructose concentration, amount of fructose used during the first hour of incubation, and amount of fructose used per hour for 2 hours. It is believed that fructose concentration is influenced by testicular hormone secretion, and thus under definite conditions is related indirectly to fertility. Rate of fructose usage was shown to be influenced by spermatozoa concentration, initial fructose concentration, and motility.
Rate of fructolysis was not found to be significantly correlated with fertility.
Fructose content and rate of fructolysis in themselves offer little aid in prediction of fertilizing capacity of bulls. They may be valuable, however, in conjunction with other tests of semen quality for predictive purposes.
Advisor: A. B. Schulze
Comments
Copyright 1953, the author. Used by permission.