Characteristics and seasonal variations in the semen of Alpine, Saanen andDamascus goat bucks born and raised in Greece

Twenty-three purebred Alpine (n=8), Saanen (n=7) and Damascus (n=8) goat bu cks raised at the Institute of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination in Thessaloniki, Greece (40 degrees 37' N, 22 degrees 58' E and altitude 32 m above sea level), were used to study the effect of photoperiod on semen pro duction. Samples were collected with an artificial vagina and examined imme diately after collection. In spite of the variation in nearly all semen characteristics studied among the 3 breeds of bucks, there was significant seasonal variation in both se men quantity (volume, concentration and total number of spermatozoa per eja culate) and quality (percentage of motile spermatozoa, percentage of abnorm al spermatozoa and rate of progressive motility). The best semen was produc ed during the breeding season (late summer and autumn). However, the magnit ude of these seasonal effects was not sufficient to prevent bucks from bein g used for breeding throughout the year. Nevertheless, individual differenc es in the semen quantity and quality among bucks within a breed make indivi dual evaluation of semen necessary to select the most fertile males for bre eding. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.