Indicators of native and frozen-thawed semen in breeding bulls of the simmental and montbeliarde breeds

Semen quality is the main parameter for evaluating sires. Sperm freezing is considered the main method for preserving animals with certain reproductive capabilities. The aim of the study was to investigate the quantitative and qualitative parameters of native and frozen-thawed semen in sires depending on the selection direction. The study was conducted at the base of JSC "GCV" in the Moscow Region, Podolsk, on 3 groups of bulls in the amount of 12 heads: Simmental bulls of the dairy direction (n=4) and meat direction (n=4) and Montbéliarde bulls of the dairy direction (n=4). A total of 477 samples were analyzed, including 173 samples from meat Simmentals (the number of samples in a group varied from 41 to 46); 160 samplings of dairy Simmentals (the number of samplings in a group varied from 32 to 46) and 144 samplings of Montbéliarde (the number of samplings in a group varied from 29 to 47). It was found that the defective ejaculates of native semen in beef bulls averaged 22.7%, the number of fertile spermatozoa 32.6%, while the percentage of defective ejaculates in dairy sires of the Simmental breed averaged 12%, the percentage of fertile spermatozoa at the level of 44.6%. Similar indicators were obtained in Montbéliarde bulls and amounted to 8.2% and 53.6%, respectively. Semen losses per bull were greatest in beef Simmentals (9,808 doses). In Montbéliardes, this figure was 3,795 doses. At a reliable level, the dose of frozen semen per 1 ejaculate in Simmental bulls of dairy orientation was 236 doses and in beef orientation - 201 doses (at P < 0.05). Individual characteristics were also established in bulls in all groups.