Effect of epididymitis on semen quality of rams
Bagley, C.V.; Burrell, W.C.; Esplin, G.M.; Walters, J.L.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 185(8): 876-877
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 6501046 Document Number: 235283
To better document the detrimental effect of ram epididymitis (RE) in large range flocks, a study was conducted to determine the correlation of palpable RE lesions and semen quality. Presence of leukocytes in the semen of rams affected with RE also was evaluated, and was found to correlate positively with RE lesions and inversely with semen quality. Rams with palpable RE lesions usually produced semen of reduced quality; however, some affected rams did produce good quality semen. The mean scrotal circumference varied significantly when rams were analyzed by breed, but not when grouped by RE status or classified by semen quality.