Biometry of frozen-thawed sperm from eight breeds of Indian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Sperm morphometry, in combination with other objective traits, can be useful for developing a fertility index. The objective of the present study was to measure various biometric end points of frozen-thawed sperm from eight breeds of Indian buffaloes (Murrah, Surti, Tarai, Mehsana, Jaffrabadi, Bhadawari, Pandharpuri and Nili-Ravi). The sperm head of Pandharpuri buffaloes had the greatest length (10.21 mu m), width (6.05 mu m), area (52.31 mu m(2)) and perimeter (31.86 mu m). The ratio of sperm width to length was also greatest (0.61) in Pandharpuri as well as in two other breeds, viz. Nifi-Ravi and Jaffrabadi. Murrah had the smallest sperm head width (4.75 mu m), area (41.65 mu m(2)) and perimeter (29.17 mu m), but its sperm tail was longest (57.02 mu m), along with that of Jaffrabadi buffaloes (56.96 mu m). Based on mean values of sperm tail length, mid piece length and its width the eight buffalo breeds were categorized into three, four and five groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis and clustering put six breeds (Surti, Tarai, Mehsana, Jaffrabadi, Bhadawari and Nili-Ravi) in one cluster, whereas Murrah and Pandharpuri appeared as separate entities. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.