Relationship of caprine sperm biometry with fertility and progeny weight

Fresh semen samples of Ganjam and Black Bengal bucks, maintained in the ICAR Adhoc scheme, were utilised for the sperm biometry study and data on 120 progeny of these bucks were used for calculating fertility and progeny weight at birth, three and six months of age. Breed difference was significant for spermatozoa length, head circumference, head length, head area, head shape, middle piece breadth and motility and also with respect to fertility. The multiple correlations obtained for fertility, birth weight, and weight at three and six months with spermatozoa measurements was 0.751, 0.574, 0.270 and 0.39, respectively. The prediction equation for fertility and body weight were computed based on the spermatozoa measurements and semen characteristics. The R² values for fertility of bucks indicate that it can be predicted effectively before service.