Freezing of Ram Semen Using Glycerol-Free Extenders

Abstract

A series of five major experiments was conducted to determine the possibility of freezing ram semen using extenders excluding glycerol which has been found to have adverse effects on the acrosome membrane of ram spermatozoa and to result in reduced fertility. Semen samples were obtained from 6 rams (3 Merinos: M and 3 Coopworths: C) by AV. Two criteria were used to determine semen quality after freezing namely, percentage of sperm motility and acrosome integrity. Sperm motility was determined by the conventional microscopic method and acrosome integrity was determined by a 'sperm bound amidase assay'.