Semen production in two rabbit lines divergently selected for 63-d body weight
2006
Brun, J.M. | Theau-Clement, M. | Esparbie, J. | Falieres, J. | Saleil, G. | Larzul, C.
Thirty-one bucks from two lines divergently selected for 63-d body weight (low, L and high, H) were solicited every week (twice at a 15 min interval) during 18 weeks resulting in 482 ejaculates. While differing markedly on adult body weight (L: 4650 g versus H: 5925 g), both lines had the same testis weight. Libido did not differ between the lines. The proportion of ejaculates suitable for insemination was markedly higher in the L line (66.5% versus 44.2%). Mass motility and the volume of the ejaculates were higher in the L line while the sperm concentration was higher in the H line. Overall, the total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was similar in both lines but the efficient number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, a synthetic criterion taking into account the ability of the ejaculate for insemination was higher in the L line (229 versus 170 x 10⁶). The L line had higher values of average path velocity, linearity and curvilinear velocity but a lower value of beat cross frequency. In the L line, both ejaculates had the same concentration, while in the H line, the first ejaculate was more concentrated than the second one. Some male reproductive traits are therefore genetically related to body weight.
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