Characterization of the onset of puberty in Tazegzawt lambs, an endangered Algerian sheep: Body weight, thoracic perimeter, testicular growth, and seminal parameters

Vet World Vol.11 July-2018 Article-1

Research Article

Veterinary World, 11(7): 889-894

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2018.889-894

Farid Moulla^1,2, Rachid El-Bouyahiaoui¹, Rebouh Nazih³, Norezzine Abdelaziz³, Nacera Zerrouki², and Mokrane Iguer-Ouada⁴

1. National Institute for Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA), 02, Av. Freres Ouaddek, BP, 200, El Harrach, Alger, Algeria.
2. Department of Agronomic, Faculty of Biologic and Agronomic Sciences, University Mouloud Mammeri of Tizi ouzou, Tizi-ouzou, Algeria.
3. Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, Russia.
4. Laboratoire Associe en Ecosystemes Marins et Aquacoles, Faculte des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Universite de Bejaia, Algerie.

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to define the onset of puberty in Tazegzawt ram lambs, an Algerian sheep breed in endangered status with a small population in its local area.

Materials and Methods: Body growth (body weight and thoracic perimeter), scrotal circumference (SC), penis development stages, and seminal parameters (volume, concentration, and motility) were measured. Data were recorded at fortnightly intervals in 10 animals from 9 to 49 weeks of age.

Results: On the basis of seminal analyses, puberty occurred between 29 and 45 weeks of age. At 29 weeks of age, 30% of lambs reached puberty, and at 45 weeks of age, puberty was observed in 100% of the analyzed animals. Body weight appeared as the most determinant factor, and the onset of puberty was observed when animals reached 43.2±6.4 kg body weight with 25.8±3.7 cm of SC. Seminal analyses revealed that all parameters increased regularly from puberty onset except for sperm concentration. The mean semen volume during the study period was 0.48±0.33 mL with 0.84±0.6 mL at 37 weeks of age. Sperm concentration evolved similarly as semen volume; at 29 and 43 weeks of age, the sperm concentration was 942x106 and 1904x106 spermatozoa/mL, respectively. Kinematic parameters including the percentage of motility, the percentage of progressive motility, and gametes velocities as determined by Computer-Aided Sperm Analyzer showed the highest values at 49 weeks of age.

Conclusion: The current results revealed that, in Tazegzawt ram lambs, puberty occurs between 29 and 45 weeks when animals reach 43.2±4.6 kg body weight. Keywords: body weight, puberty onset, scrotal circumference, seminal parameters, Tazegzawt breed sheep.

Keywords: body weight, puberty onset, scrotal circumference, seminal parameters, Tazegzawt breed sheep.

How to cite this article: Moulla F, El-Bouyahiaoui R, Nazih R, Abdelaziz N, Zerrouki N, Iguer-Ouada M (2018) Characterization of the onset of puberty in Tazegzawt lambs, an endangered Algerian sheep: Body weight, thoracic perimeter, testicular growth and seminal parameters, Veterinary World, 11(7): 889-894.

Received: 04-03-2018 Accepted: 08-05-2018 Published online: 02-07-2018

Corresponding author: Mokrane Iguer-Ouada E-mail: imokrane@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.889-894

Copyright: Moulla, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.