Assessment of ram fertility in hill flocks in Argyll
Barr, W.M.
Veterinary Record 114(24): 587-590
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6464323 Document Number: 229343
Examination of 1260 rams, involving 1540 semen examinations, revealed that 9% of rams in hill flocks in Argyll were subfertile as assessed by semen evaluation. Although 34 lesions of the genitalia were identified, only 13 were associated with poor semen quality. A 5-year survey of one blackface flock resulted in the elimination, after three years, of a 17% level of infertility following routine examination of all rams, with an increase of 2.27% in the lamb crop. Based on the 1981 lamb prices for this flock an increased income of #1085 was achieved.