SEMEN QUALITY OF ARRABI AND KARRADI IRAQI RAMS .

Abstract

Breed differences in the semen quality of Iraqi sheep were studied on 16 rams, 8 of each, Karradi and Arrabi. Rams were habituated on the method of electrical stimulation with a bi-polar rectal probe. Semen samples were collected within two weeks and their characters which included, volume of ejaculate, color, pH, mass motility percentage , individual motility percentage, concentration of sperm , viability percentage, abnormal sperm percentage and acrosomal abrasion percentage were tested for both Karradi and Arrabi breeds. The results revealed that the volume 0.61ml, o.59 ml, color degree 1.25, 1.5, pH 6.89, 6.9, mass motility 66.25% , 63.75%, individual motility 60%, 58.75%, sperm concentration 121.88 million/ml, 120.5 million/ml, viability 74%, 70.25%, abnormal sperm 17.13% , 18% and acrosomal abrasion 18.5% , 19.25 respectively . Karradi ram semen showed higher viability percentage 74 ± 1.3 than that in Arrabi 70.23± 0.56 , and it is highly significance (p< 0.01). Karradi sheep in general may have been adapted and acclimatized exceptional well in the middle part of Iraq compared to Arrabi sheep.