Effects of body weight and condition on selected quantitative and qualitative semen parameters in Boer breeding bucks
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of body weight and body condition on several quantitative and qualitative semen parameters of Boer bucks for artificial insemination purposes. The experiment was conducted from September 2024 to February 2025 on 150 semen samples collected from 15 healthy Boer bucks aged 10 to 15 months, raised at a goat farm located in Nhon Ai commune, Can Tho City. The animals were divided into three groups based on body weight: under 25 kg, 30–50 kg, and over 55 kg. Semen was collected in the morning using an artificial vagina and analyzed at the Veterinary Practice Laboratory, Tay Do University. The evaluated parameters included semen volume, pH, sperm motility, sperm concentration, resistance, and the proportion of abnormal spermatozoa. Results showed that the medium body condition group (30–50 kg) achieved the highest semen quality, with a volume of 1.26 ml, motility of 88.14%, concentration of 3.29 billion/ml, and resistance of 6,151, which were superior to the other two groups. These findings indicate that maintaining a medium body condition in Boer bucks is a key factor in optimizing semen quality, thereby enhancing the efficiency of artificial insemination and genetic selection programs.
