Effect of post-mortem time on the quality of ram cauda epididymal spermatozoa

A total of 36 ram testicles were collected from two local slaughter houses in Srinagar city and divided into four groups as per the post-mortem time. All the testicles were transported in normal saline and processed between 1–5 hrs (Gr I), between 6–10 hrs (Gr II), between 11–15 hrs (Gr III) and between 16–20 hrs (Gr IV) after slaughter. The mean testicular weights for group I, II, III and IV were 155.9±21.4, 174.5±13.3, 149.4±11.7 and 166.8±23.1 g, respectively and the corresponding values for cauda weight were 6.90±1.01, 9.13±0.70, 8.18±0.60 and 7.86±0.90 g. Sperm motility declined significantly from Gr I (85.0%) to Gr IV (70.56%). The sperm motility was significantly (P<0.01) higher for Gr I than the other three groups. However, the difference was non-significant between Gr I and II and between Gr II and III. The mean live sperms were 92.5, 89.5, 89.67 and 83.28% for Gr I, II, III and IV, respectively. The mean intact acrosome percent also did not differ significantly between the four groups. The minor sperm abnormality percent increased non-significantly from Gr I to IV and was mainly contributed by distal cytoplasmic droplet which is considered as a normal part of sperm maturation process. Also the major sperm abnormality did not show any definite trend from Gr I to IV. In conclusion, the quality of ram cauda epididymal spermatozoa did not deteriorate even at 20 hrs after slaughter.