Abstract

VALLECILLO, A.; MIRO-ARIAS, M.; ROCA, A.  and  PONS, A.. Seminal characterization of the Menorquina sheep. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2011, vol.60, n.231, pp.349-352. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922011000300008.

Menorquina sheep is included in the group of breeds in danger of extinction according the Offcial Spanish Catalogue of Livestock Breeds. In 2003, 2000 animals were enclosed in the herd book, all them belonging to 52 farms. Presently, the breed has, in the ex situ conservation program, a germplasm bank which started in 2008 and continues completing yearly. This paper exposes the preliminary results of the semen characterization of the Menorquina sheep breed male, studying variables such as volume, concentration, basal and progressive motility, in relation to the year of collection. A total of 41 ejaculates from 8 males were studied. Preliminary data offered the following means and standard deviations: concentration, 3 897x10⁶±2,74 espermatozoa/ml; 4 456x10⁶±4,43 total spermatozoa; progressive motility 50±16,77 (0-100%); volume 1,06±0,66 ml; basal motility 3,58±1,01 (1-5). The variables shown differences statistically significant among years of collection.

Keywords : Conservation program; Zoogenetic resources; Germplasm bank.

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