Testicular Biometry as a Non-invasive Indicator of Semen Quality and Sperm Kinematics in Black Bengal Bucks
Pratyanshu Srivastava *
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India and Division of Animal Reproduction, ICAR, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Atul Saxena
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mukul Anand
Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Amrita Priyadershi
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India and Division of Animal Reproduction, ICAR, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anoop Kumar
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ankit Saran
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ashutosh Mishra
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nagendra Singh
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Duvasu Mathura, India.
Anuj Kumar
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Jitendra Kumar Agrawal
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Chetna Gangwar
Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (COVSc & AH), U.P. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Uttam Kumar Sahu
Division of Animal Reproduction, ICAR, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Neeraj Srivastava
Division of Animal Reproduction, ICAR, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ravi Dabas
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Scrotal circumference (SC) is widely used as an indicator of male reproductive potential; however, its predictive value for detailed seminal and kinematic characteristics remains poorly defined in Black Bengal bucks. This study evaluated the association of testicular biometry with semen quality and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA)-derived sperm motion traits in 15 clinically healthy bucks, retrospectively grouped by SC as 19–22 cm (Group I) and ≥22–25 cm (Group II). The results showed that bucks with larger SC had significantly greater testicular width, testicular volume and estimated testicular weight (P < 0.05), indicating greater testicular development. These biometric differences were accompanied by improved seminal attributes, including higher semen volume, sperm concentration, mass motility and sperm viability (P < 0.05). CASA evaluation further showed higher progressive motility and increased velocity and distance indices, including VSL, VCL, DAP and DSL, in Group II than in Group I (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated stronger associations between SC, testicular measurements, semen volume and sperm concentration in bucks with SC ≥22 cm (r = 0.668–0.870; P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), whereas the corresponding relationships were weaker in bucks with smaller SC. Although the study was based on a modest sample size, the findings suggest that SC and related testicular biometric traits may serve as practical, non-invasive indicators of semen quality and sperm kinematics in Black Bengal bucks, supporting their use in preliminary breeding-male selection and AI-based genetic improvement programmes.
Keywords: Black Bengal buck, testicular biometry, scrotal circumference, semen quality, sperm kinematics, computer-assisted sperm analysis, sperm concentration, progressive motility, sperm viability, artificial insemination, breeding soundness.