Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate the seasonal changes in serum testosterone levels and spermatological characteristics
in Akkaraman rams.
In this investigation, 120 Akkaraman rams, which were brought to the slaughterhouse for slaughtering and whose ages
ranged between 14-18 months, were used. Semen was collected by an electroejaculator. Volume, motility, concentration and
rate of abnormal spermatozoa were determined in collected semen. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein and
centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 minfor serum extraction. The amount of testosterone was determined by coated tube RIA
method using the serum stored at deepfreeze at -20°C.
While the highest annual values of semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and testosterone were determined as
1.11±0.03 ml, 84.66±1.01%, 3.21±0.07x109/ml and 6.35±0.16 ng/ml respectively in September. The lowest values of these
parameters were determined as 0.56±0.03 ml, 63.32±0.99%, 2.03±0.06x109/ml, 2.69±0.08 ng/ml respectively, in February.
Semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and amount of testosterone reached their maximum levels in autumn and
minimum levels in winter. Variations of these parameters among months, seasons were statistically significant (p<0.05).
There were significant (p<0.01, p<0.05) correlations among semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, amount of
testosterone during four seasons.
In conclusion, spermatological characteristics and amount of testosterone in Akkaraman rams were affected significantly by
changing months and seasons and these features had a positive effect on fertility and showed the most improvement
especially in autumn, the breeding season for rams.
