Effect of inbreeding depression on bull sperm quality and field fertility

DORADO, JESÚS; CID, ROSA MORALES; MOLINA, ANTONIO; HIDALGO, MANUEL; ARIZA, JULIA; MORENO-MILLÁN, MIGUEL; DEMYDA-PEYRÁS, SEBASTIÁN

REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2017 vol. 29 p. 712 - 720

1031-3613

The present study investigated the effect of inbreeding depression on sperm quality using automated and objective methods and subsequent effects on beef bull field fertility. Individual inbreeding coefficient (F) values and field fertility data were determined using a dataset of AI bulls belonging to the Spanish Retinta Breeders Association (Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Ganado Vacuno Selecto de Raza Retinta (ANCRE)). Animals were clustered in two groups according to the F values as follows: (1) a high inbreeding group (HI; F≥13.5%, mean 16.3); and (2) a non-inbreeding group (NI; F≤0%). In total, 17 different assessments were performed in both experimental groups, including evaluation of sperm morphology, acrosomal and DNA status, sperm plasma membrane integrity and function (hypo-osmotic swelling test), 10 kinetic parameters and the structure of sperm subpopulations. Sperm morphology, acrosomal and DNA status and osmotic tolerance were similar in both groups. Three velocity parameters (curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity and average path velocity) and the amplitude of lateral head displacement were higher in HI (P