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Effect of Transportation upon Fertility of Bulls

American Foundation for Biological Research, Madison, Wisconsin

ABSTRACT

This laboratory (3) has previously reported data on fertility of 36 bulls, prior to and following transportation among studs, in a large artificial breeding organization. On the basis of fertility data and experience of that organization, there has been no evidence of reduced fertility caused by transportation. This has been contrary to the findings of Meschaks (2) and Knudsen (1), who have described several bulls as incurring degenerative changes in the spermatogenic epithelium, increased neutral steroids in urine, increased morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa, and reduced fertility, following transportation. They attributed these disturbances to direct or indirect psychic effect (transport stress) on the sexual functions.

This Technical Note reports additional fertility data which the writer has accumulated since the first paper. In the present study, 60-to 90-day nonreturn rates from inseminations performed the first day following collection of semen were compiled for each of the two one-month periods preceding and following each move. The bulls included in this study were transported for distances ranging from approximately 300 to 2,000 miles.

¹ Present address: Department of Dairy, Michigan State University, East Lansing.