Study to evaluate the time dependent changes in frozen-thaw goat spermatozoa prior to insemination

A study was conducted to evaluate the time dependent post thaw semen quality of goat during the holding period prior to insemination. Frozen semen straws from 10 healthy Barbari buck maintained at frozen semen production station were utilized for the experiment. Frozen semen dose of each individual buck was subjected to thawing later kept at room temperature. The seminal attributes were recorded at every 5 minutes interval starting from 0 minute up to 30 minutes using computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA) and flow cytometer. A significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher values for percent viable, acrosomal intact, polarize spermatozoa indicative of mitochondrial function along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) unaffected spermatozoa were observed up to 5 minutes of post thawing. The value exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase curvilinear velocity (VCL, µm/sec), average path velocity (VAP, µm/sec), straight line velocity (VSL, µm/sec), Linearity (Lin%), Straightness (Str %), Wobble (WOB%), beat cross frequency (BCF %) and maximum amplitude-lateral head displacement (ALH, µm) at 5 minutes and 10 minutes of thawing which significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased with increase in holding time after thawing. So, it may be concluded that frozen thaw spermatozoa retrieve the metabolic activity within 5 minutes of thawing thereafter exhibit reduction in seminal attribute, hence insemination within 5 minutes of thawing can be considered as the best suited time to utilize semen for insemination with better conception.

• Goat spermatozoa require 5 minutes to retrieve its metabolic activity and there after starts exhibits detrimental changes.

• Artificial insemination should be conducted within 5 minutes post thawing.