Seasonal changes in reproductive parameters and seminal plasma constituents of rams in Afyon province of Turkey

The objective of the present study was to describe seasonal changes in semen quality, serum testosterone and seminal plasma constituents for 9 months in 10 rams from a mature local (Daglic) and imported breed (Chios) under Afyon province conditions typical for the internal Anatolian region. Sperm motility and sperm concentration and testosterone level were higher, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was the lowest during autumn. The biochemical analyses of ram seminal plasma indicated that the highest values of total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), total lipid and cholesterol were recorded in autumn while A/G ratio exhibited the lowest values. Aspartate amino transferase (AST) activity and AST/ALT ratio recorded the lowest values, while moderate values were recorded for alanine amino transferase (ALT) activity in autumn. The results suggest that the rams under Afyon province conditions show seasonal changes for some reproductive parameters and seminal plasma constituents.