Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.1, p. 99-104. April. 2015

DOI Number: 10.5958/2277-940X.2015.00016.9

Effect of Season and Age on Bacterial Load in

Fresh Semen Ejaculates of Buffalo Bulls

Chandrahas Sannat 1* , Ajit Nair 2 , Shashi Bhushan Sahu 2 and Sanjeev A. Sahasrabudhe 2

1 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Anjora, Durg Chhattisgarh, INDIA

2 Central Semen Station, Anjora, Durg, Chhattisgarh, INDIA

*Corresponding author: C. Sannat; E-mail: csannat@rediffmail.com

Received: 29 January, 2015

Accepted: 10 February, 2015

ABSTRACT

Fresh semen of 10 Murrah buffalo bulls of two different age group viz. 4-5 years and 8-9 years having five bulls in each, were

evaluated for total viable bacterial load during three different seasons (summer, rainy and winter).Mean bacterial load in fresh

ejaculates of buffalo bulls (three ejaculates per bull in each season) was measured using standard plate count method and

expressed as mean (± SEM) CFU per ml of semen. Non significant (P > 0.05) but visible differences of mean bacterial load in

bubaline semen was recorded between seasons. Comparatively higher bacterial count in bubaline semen was observed during

summer season (18000 ± 4667 CFU/ml) as compared to rainy (16000 ± 3055 CFU/ml) and winter season (12000±3266 CFU/

ml). Likewise, nonsignificant (P>0.05) seasonal influence was recorded over bacterial load in semen from bulls of two different

age groups. However, appreciable variation was noticed within seasons. During summer season, younger bulls (aged between

4-5 years) showed higher bacterial load (22000±8000 CFU/ml) as compared to older bulls (14000±5099 CFU/ml) and vice

versa during winter season. Variations recorded during present study was due to significant variation (P<0.05) among individual

bulls within and between seasons. Bacterial load in bubaline semen during summer season was negatively correlated with that

during rainy (r = -0.296) and winter season (r = -0.19), however positive correlation (r = 0.423) was noticed between rainy

and winter season. In conclusion, the changing seasons during the period of study produced nonsignificant effect on microbial

quality of the spermatozoa in Murrah bulls.

Keywords: Season, Age, Murrah bulls, Semen, Bacterial load

The buffaloes are in the order of Artiodactyla , the cloven-

bulls. Seasonality in buffalo reproduction has been

hooved mammals, genus Bubalus and species bubalis .

reported from India, Pakistan and other parts of world

The buffalo population is continuously increasing, and

(Singh et al. , 2013). Although buffalo bulls breed the

is estimated at over 185.29 million head (FAO, 2008).

year round, conflicting reports have been published about

97 percent of them are water buffaloes and are mainly

semen quality at different ages and during various seasons

found in the Asian region. India has 105.1 millions and

of the year. Studies examining the relationship between

they comprise approximately 56.7% of total world buffalo

climatic changes and some parameters of semen have been

population. Riverine buffaloes (70 percent of the total

already published for Murrah (Bhosrekar et al ., 1992),

world population) of well defined breeds are found only

Surti (Gupta et al ., 1978), Nili-Ravi (Javed et al ., 2000)

in India and Pakistan (Drost, 2007). Murrah buffalo is the

and swamp buffalo (Koonjaenak et al ., 2007a), but none of

most efficient milk producer and has better adaptability

reports discussed the influence of season on bacterial load

throughout India (Resali, 2000). The production potential

in bubaline season. The bacterial contaminants of semen

of local nondescript/ Murrah buffaloes in Chhattisgarh are

have been a major concern for most semen production

being increased by genetic improvement through artificial

laboratories as it adversely affects the semen quality and

insemination (AI) using cryopreserved semen of Murrah

hence the subsequent fertility (Grieveu et al ., 1995). It