Avaliação de características corporais e de parâmetros reprodutivos em caprinos criados no município de Parnamirim - Pernambuco (PE)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the body and testicle traits, and seminal quality of male goats reared in Parnamirim, as well as their associations with climatic, physiological and morphological parameters. The averages of air temperature, relative air humidity and temperature and humidity index (THI) for June were consistent for the rainy season of the region. At the day of data collection, air temperature and THI increased throughout the day, as the relative humidity of the air decreased. Body measurements and scrotal circumference are within the expected pattern for species, breeds and ages of bucks. One could observe that scrotal circumference was positively correlated with body length, height of the withers, height of the croup, thoracic perimeter, live weight, testicular width, testicular volume, sperm concentration, ejaculate volume, mass motility and percentage of mobile spermatozoa. Respiratoryand cardiac frequencies, as well as the rectal, body surface and scrotal surface temperatures increased due to the increase in air temperature during the day of collection. Of the animals evaluated, only two of the Anglo Nubiana bucks presented the ejaculate volume of 0.1 ml. Three males had acceptable sperm concentrations, while two males were within the standard for the motile sperm percentage. Five bucks were fitted in relation to individual progressive motility. Air temperature was positively correlated with respiratory rate, rectal and body surface temperatures, and was negatively correlated with the volume of ejaculate and the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Regarding major defects, the most frequent findings in the ejaculates were dag tail, followed by teratological forms and cuneiform head. The most frequent minor defects were folded tail, distal cytoplasmic droplet and normal detached head. Therefore, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the semen showed that, although the goats arepure of origin (PO) and present body conformation for the breed, the breeding soundness evaluation it is crucial to know if the males are able for maximum productive and reproductive performances. All the parameters evaluated are useful for choosing suitable breeders for breeding seasons, aiming to increase reproductive efficiency and animal welfare.