1Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Reproduction, School of Agrarian Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University, (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
2Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil.
3School of Veterinary Medicine (FAMEV), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
4Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
*Corresponding Author: leticiazoccolaro@yahoo.com.br
Online published on 9 November, 2012.
It has been reported that different conception rates can be obtained according to the semen used, indicating a significant sire variability in field fertility. Furthermore, several studies have reported the influence of semen quality and/or semen handling procedures in the reproductive outcomes. However, the laboratory assessment of semen quality seems to be still unable in predicting the real bull fertility obtained in field trials. Thus, this manuscript aimed to review the importance of semen quality in bovine reproductive programs as well as to revise the studies regarding in vitro sperm characteristics and in vivo bull fertility and its correlations.
Artificial insemination, Cattle, sperm characteristics, Field fertility
