Download full text in PDF

Bìol. Tvarin. 2023; 25 (3): 19–22.
https://doi.org/10.15407/animbiol25.03.019
Received 26.05.2023 ▪ Revision 23.07.2023 ▪ Accepted 25.09.2023 ▪ Published online 02.10.2023

---

Reproductive characteristics of Saanen and Alpine bucks

A. Bogdaniuk^1,2, V. Garkavii³, M. Petrushko¹

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

¹Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine NAS of Ukraine, 23 Pereyaslavska str., Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
²“Institute of Contemporary Veterinary Technologies” LLC, 27 Shevchenka str., Cherevky, Brovary district, Kyiv region, 07624, Ukraine
³“Tatyana 2011” farm, 1M Shevchenka str., Cherevky, Brovary district, Kyiv region, 07624, Ukraine

---

Genetic variations among breeds within a species can impact not only productivity traits, such as milk yield and quality, but also animal health, including fertility. This study aimed to compare the reproductive characteristics of bucks from the Saanen and Alpine breeds. Sperm concentration and motility were assessed using light microscopy, viability was determined using eosin-nigrosin staining, and morphological parameters were evaluated using the Spermac Stain method. DNA fragmentation was measured using the Halosperm kit. Artificial insemination of goats was conducted with fresh semen during natural estrus. Statistical analysis was performed using the Graph Pad Prism software. The results revealed that Alpine bucks exhibited significantly higher semen volume, sperm concentration, viability, and motility (P<0.05). No significant differences (P≥0,05) were observed between the breeds regarding the number of spermatozoa with normal morphology and the rate of DNA fragmentation. Cryobiological analysis of spermatozoa from Saanen bucks suggested a higher cryoresistance compared to the Alpine breed. Following artificial insemination of goats, the pregnancy rate for the Saanen breed was 61.8%, which was twice as high as that observed in Alpine goats — 28.8% (P<0.05). These findings demonstrate significant differences in reproductive characteristics between Saanen and Alpine goats. Despite superior sperm characteristics, the pregnancy rate after artificial insemination was significantly lower in the Alpine breed compared to the Saanen breed. Consequently, it is crucial to consider these variations in essential reproductive characteristics when implementing breeding programs and employing reproductive biotechnology in animal husbandry to ensure their successful application and effectiveness.

Key words: sperm, reproductive characteristics, cryopreservation, pregnancy, goats, bucks, Saanen breed, Alpine breed

---

1. Amills M, Capote J, Tosser-Klopp G. Goat domestication and breeding: a jigsaw of historical, biological and molecular data with missing pieces. Genet. 2017; 48 (6): 631–644. DOI: 10.1111/age.12598.
2. Bogdaniuk A, Garkavii V, Petrushko M. Seasonal variability in cryoresistance of Saanen goats spermatozoa and reproductive characteristics. Cryobiol. Cryomed. 2022; 32 (1): 34–43. DOI: 10.15407/cryo32.01.034. (in Ukrainian)
3. Bogdaniuk AO, Yurchuk TO, Petrushko MP. Seasonal differences in sperm characteristics and the level of DNA fragmentation in fresh and cryopreserved sperm of Saanen goats. Genet. 2022; 56 (5): 410–416. DOI: 10.3103/S0095452722050036.
4. Desire S, Mucha S, Coffey M, Mrode R, Broadbent J, Conington J. Pseudopregnancy and aseasonal breeding in dairy goats: genetic basis of fertility and impact on lifetime productivity. Animal. 2018; 12 (9): 1799–1806. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731117003056.
5. Harris DL, Newman S. Breeding for profit: synergism between genetic improvement and livestock production (a review). Anim. Sci. 1994; 72 (8): 2178–2200. DOI: 10.2527/1994.7282178x.
6. Karagiannidis A, Varsakeli S, Karatzas G. Characteristics and seasonal variations in the semen of Alpine, Saanen and Damascus goat bucks born and raised in Greece. Theriogenol. 2000; 53 (6): 1285–1293. DOI: 10.1016/S0093-691X(00)00272-7.
7. Kopeika EF, Petrushko MP, Piniaiev VI, Yurchuk TO, Pavlovich OV, Mikson KB, Butskyi KI, Hapon HO, Puhovkin AY. Cryopreservation of reproductive cells and embryos of laboratory, agricultural and wild animals. Cryobiol. Cryomed. 2019; 29 (1): 3–18. DOI: 10.15407/cryo29.01.003.
8. Lim DH, Mayakrishnan V, Lee HJ, Ki KS, Kim TI, Kim Y. A comparative study on milk composition of Jersey and Holstein dairy cows during the early lactation. Anim. Sci. Technol. 2020; 62 (4): 565–576. DOI: 10.5187/jast.2020.62.4.565.
9. Lopes Júnior ES, Cruz JF, Teixeira DIA, Lima Verde JB, Paula NRO, Rondina D, Freitas VJF. Pseudopregnancy in Saanen goats (Capra hircus) raised in Northeast Brazil. Res. Commun. 2004; 28 (2): 119–125. DOI: 10.1023/B:VERC.0000012112.79820.e0.
10. Luo J, Wang W, Sun S. Research advances in reproduction for dairy goats. Australas. J. Anim. Sci. 2019; 32 (8): 1284–1295. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.19.0486.
11. Lv C, Wu G, Hong Q, Quan G. Spermatozoa cryopreservation: state of art and future in small ruminants. Biobank. 2019; 17 (2): 171–182. DOI: 10.1089/bio.2018.0113.
12. Mohammed Muayad TA, Haniza MZH, Husni I. Reproductive performance of different goat breeds in Malaysia. Indian J. Anim. Res. 2017; 53 (1): 24–27. DOI: 10.18805/ijar.v0iOF.7002.
13. Pirova L, Syvyk T. Technology of production of small ruminants products: methodical recommendations and workbook for practical classes of students of the Faculty of Biology and Technology of full-time and part-time forms of study of the Bachelor educational degree in speciality 204 “Technology of production and processing of livestock products” under the credit transfer system of educational process organization. Bila Tserkva, 2018: 58–59. Available at: https://rep.btsau.edu.ua/handle/BNAU/1389. (in Ukrainian)
14. Prieto-Martínez N, Vilagran I, Morató R, Rivera del Álamo MM, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Bonet S, Yeste M. Relationship of aquaporins 3 (AQP3), 7 (AQP7), and 11 (AQP11) with boar sperm resilience to withstand freeze-thawing procedures. Andrology. 2017; 5 (6): 1153–1164. DOI: 10.1111/andr.12410.
15. Rhone JA, Waldron DF, Herring AD. Performance of Boer-Spanish and Spanish goats in Texas I: Body weights, fertility, prolificacy, and number of kids weaned. Anim. Sci. 2013; 91 (10): 4679–4683. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-6227.
16. Sharan MM, Salyha YT. The status and prospects of reproductive biotechnology application to increase productivity in cattle breeding. Bìol. Tvarin. 2022; 24 (3): 44–50. DOI: 10.15407/animbiol24.03.044. (in Ukrainian)
17. Shelton M. Reproduction and breeding of goats. Dairy Sci. 1978; 61 (7): 994–1010. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(78)83680-7.
18. Yánez-Ortiz I, Catalán J, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Miró J, Yeste M. Advances in sperm cryopreservation in farm animals: Cattle, horse, pig and sheep. Reprod. Sci. 2022; 246: 106904. DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106904.
19. Zaghloul HK, El-Maghraby MM, El badawy AA, Yousif AIA. Characteristics, yield, flow cytometer, DNA fragmentation, and comet assay parameters of goat spermatozoa in semen of Zaraibi and Baladi bucks at young and old ages. Anim. Poultry Prod. 2021; 12 (9): 305–314. DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2021.95942.1021.
20. Zarazaga LA, Guzmán JL, Domínguez C, Pérez MC, Prieto R. Effects of season and feeding level on reproductive activity and semen quality in Payoya buck goats. Theriogenol. 2009; 71 (8): 1316–1325. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.01.007.
21. Zi XD, Hu L, Lu JY, Liu S, Zheng YC. Comparison of the sequences and expression levels of genes related to follicular development and atresia between prolific and nonprolific goat breeds. Vet. Med. Sci. 2020; 6 (2): 187–195. DOI: 10.1002/vms3.225.