Some reproductive aspects of imported friesian bulls in Iraq

vThe present study was carried out at Abu-GhraibA.I. Centre, Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 29 imported Fries~ian bulls ranging in age between 10 and 26 months wereused. The bulls were classified into 3 groups, 4ag~ing10-11 months, 15 ageing 13-17 months and 10 ageing 22-26months. The weight of each bull as well as testicularmeasurements were recorded. Two successive ejaculateswere collected from each bull once weekly. A total numberof 225 ejaculates including respectively )0, 115 and 80could be obtained from bulls of the three age groups.Libido of bulls has been evaluated in terms of reactiontime. Each ejaculate was examined for volume, sperm con-centration, total sperm output, mass activity, individualmotility, alive sperm percent, pH, dehydrogenase activity,morphological sperm abnormalities as well as the surviva-bility of the spermatozoa after storage over a three daysperiod. The spermiogram of bulls of the three age groupshas been compared. The results have been subjected tostatistical treatr.lent to reveal the significance of diffe-.rences between age group, if any, as well as to clarify therelationships between each of; age, body weight and testisvolume and semen producing potential.