New Approaches in Ruminant Reproduction

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2022) | Viewed by 11458

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071 León, Spain

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Guest Editor
Cellular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, 24071 León, Spain

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal reproduction plays a crucial role in animal livestock, production, and genetic development. Ruminants, not only domestic but also wild species, have a very important role not only in meat and dairy production but also in biodiversity conservation. In this context, the deep knowledge of every aspect related to reproductive management could improve the efficiency of this strategic sector and at the same time the management and animal welfare.

The aim of this Special Issue is therefore to collate a body of work on the topic “New Approaches in ” to detail the current progress and issues and present future solutions. Our challenge as researchers is to deliver reliable and practical methods, with a special interest in novel approaches, to improve the main artificial reproductive techniques to achieve efficient solutions for the livestock sector.

Original manuscripts that address any aspects of “ruminant reproduction” are invited for this Special Issue. However, topics of particular interest include sperm assessment and preservation, gamete manipulation, reproduction and obstetrics, and productive aspects related to reproduction and animal management.

Dr. Luis Anel-Lopez
Dr. M.F.Riesco
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ruminants
  • reproduction
  • spermatology
  • cryopreservation
  • embryo transfer
  • assisted reproductive techniques
  • and “omics” technologies

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1491 KiB  
Article
Multifaceted Interplay among Social Dominance, Body Condition, Appetitive and Consummatory Sexual Behaviors, and Semen Quality in Dorper Rams during Out-Of-Season and Transition Periods
by Pablo I. Sifuentes-Lamónt, Cesar A. Meza-Herrera, Francisco G. Véliz-Deras, Alan S. Alvarado-Espino, Ariadna V. Alvarado-Espino, Guadalupe Calderón-Leyva, Oscar Angel-Garcia, Dalia I. Carrillo-Moreno, Viridiana Contreras-Villarreal, Ramón A. Delgado González and Jorge A. Bustamante-Andrade
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3339; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233339 - 29 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1567
Abstract
Dorper rams (n = 24) were evaluated during the sexual resting season to determine their social rank (SR), either high (HSR) or low (LSR), under intensive management conditions in northern Mexico (25° N). Aggressive behaviors were quantified during male-to-male interactions, and appetitive [...] Read more.
Dorper rams (n = 24) were evaluated during the sexual resting season to determine their social rank (SR), either high (HSR) or low (LSR), under intensive management conditions in northern Mexico (25° N). Aggressive behaviors were quantified during male-to-male interactions, and appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors during male-to-female interactions. Morphometric, live weight (LW), and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. During the early reproductive season, male-to-female behaviors were newly itemized simultaneously by seminal quality and quantity sampling. Finally, the dependent variables of the hemogram components were also quantified. Neither LW (61.25 ± 2.4 kg) nor morphometric variables differed between SR groups. However, BCS (2.25 vs. 2.66 u), sexual behaviors (i.e., approaches: 59.6 vs. 21.73 n, mating with ejaculation: 77.7 vs. 42.86 %, latency to ejaculation: 16.6 vs. 143.07 s), ejaculate volume (0.57 vs. 0.23 mL), and hemogram components favored the HSR rams (p < 0.05). Moreover, in their first male-to-female interaction, >50% of the LSR rams failed to display any sexual activity. HSR rams displayed a greater number of threatening behaviors, managing to displace LSR rams when exposed to estrus ewes during the male sexual resting season; more sexual behaviors; and an increased seminal volume in a non-live weight-dependent fashion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in Ruminant Reproduction)
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18 pages, 2195 KiB  
Article
Frequency of Semen Collection Affects Ram Sperm Cryoresistance
by Cristina Palacin-Martinez, Mercedes Alvarez, Rafael Montes-Garrido, Marta Neila-Montero, Luis Anel-Lopez, Paulino de Paz, Luis Anel and Marta F. Riesco
Animals 2022, 12(12), 1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121492 - 8 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2688
Abstract
The improvement of frozen-thawed sperm quality has been mostly approached from the view of cryopreservation protocol optimization in terms of cryoprotectant solutions, freezing-thawing rates and antioxidant supplementation, while the impact of sperm collection frequency remains unknown in rams. In this work, a multiparametric [...] Read more.
The improvement of frozen-thawed sperm quality has been mostly approached from the view of cryopreservation protocol optimization in terms of cryoprotectant solutions, freezing-thawing rates and antioxidant supplementation, while the impact of sperm collection frequency remains unknown in rams. In this work, a multiparametric study was carried out in cooled and frozen-thawed semen to evaluate sperm quality after different semen collection frequencies during a month: zero sperm collection (0 CW), four sperm collections per week (4 CW), and ten sperm collections per week (10 CW). Traditional analyses have been applied, in combination with novel technologies related to redox balance. Frozen-thawed semen quality showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in 0 CW and 10 CW in comparison to 4 CW, concerning motility and kinetics parameters. However, apoptosis showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in 10 CW in comparison to 0 CW and 4 CW. The employment methods related to redox balance provided us with the definitive probe to ensure the influence of collection frequency on balance redox after thawing. Specifically, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in 10 CW compared to 0 CW and 4 CW. The characterization of alternative strategies to sperm cryopreservation based on consideration of male sexual regimes, could improve the quality of frozen-thawed sperm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in Ruminant Reproduction)
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10 pages, 546 KiB  
Article
Practical Method for Freezing Buck Semen
by Jane M. Morrell, Pongpreecha Malaluang, Theodoros Ntallaris and Anders Johannisson
Animals 2022, 12(3), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030352 - 1 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3621
Abstract
Although several protocols for cryopreserving buck semen are described in the literature, they differ widely in factors such as season and method of semen collection, extender and sperm concentration. Therefore, choosing a protocol that is suitable for a particular on-farm situation can be [...] Read more.
Although several protocols for cryopreserving buck semen are described in the literature, they differ widely in factors such as season and method of semen collection, extender and sperm concentration. Therefore, choosing a protocol that is suitable for a particular on-farm situation can be problematic. In the present study, semen was collected by artificial vagina from seven bucks on a farm located approximately 90 minutes’ drive away from the laboratory, about 6 weeks before the start of the goat breeding season. The semen was immediately extended in warm semen extender containing soy lecithin and was placed in an insulated box with a cold pack for up to 4 h, during semen collection from the remaining bucks and subsequent transport to the laboratory. Following centrifugation at 4 °C and resuspension in the soy lecithin extender to a sperm concentration of 800 × 106 spermatozoa/mL, 0.25 mL plastic straws were filled and frozen in racks 4 cm above the surface of liquid nitrogen. This simple protocol resulted in an acceptable post-thaw quality for all seven bucks, with a mean post-thaw motility of 55 ± 21% and mean fragmented chromatin of 3.27 ± 1.39%. Normal sperm morphology was >90% in all ejaculates. The semen was sent to a gamete bank for long-term storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in Ruminant Reproduction)
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18 pages, 4306 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of miRNAs and Target mRNAs between Immature and Mature Testis Tissue in Chinese Red Steppes Cattle
by Xibi Fang, Lihong Qin, Haibin Yu, Ping Jiang, Lixin Xia, Zhen Gao, Runjun Yang, Yumin Zhao, Xianzhong Yu and Zhihui Zhao
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113024 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2549
Abstract
This study aims to screen potential regulators and regulate fecundity networks between microRNAs (miRNAs) and target genes. The bovine testes of immature and mature Chinese Red Steppes were performed by genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and miRNAs. Compared with testicular tissues of newborns, 6051 [...] Read more.
This study aims to screen potential regulators and regulate fecundity networks between microRNAs (miRNAs) and target genes. The bovine testes of immature and mature Chinese Red Steppes were performed by genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and miRNAs. Compared with testicular tissues of newborns, 6051 upregulated genes and 7104 downregulated genes in adult cattle were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were significantly enriched in 808 GO terms (p < 0.05) including male gonad development, male genitalia development, spermatogenesis, and sperm motility. Moreover, DEGs were also significantly enriched in 105 KEGG pathways (p < 0.05), including cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. To explore the expression of miRNA-regulated gene expression, 896 differentially expressed target genes negatively regulated with the expression levels of 31 differentially expressed miRNAs (DERs) were predicted and analyzed, and a network-integrated analysis was constructed. Furthermore, real-time PCR was performed to verify the expression levels of DEGs and DERs. Our results identified novel candidate DEGs and DERs correlated with male reproduction and intricate regulating networks between miRNAs and genes, which will be valuable for future genetic and epigenetic studies of sperm development and maturity, as well as providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of male fertility and spermatogenesis in cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in Ruminant Reproduction)
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