RESUMO
Background: Sheep are a form of investment and a quickly liquidatable resource, particularly in traditional and low income production systems. Tropical and long warmseason regions always affect sheep production negatively
Methods: In this experiment 15 female and 7 male sheep were chosen and their body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate measurements and blood sample for biochemical parameters analysis were taken during May 5 to September 5
Results: Heart rate and respiration rate in male sheep were a little higher compared with female sheep but there was no significant difference between them respiration [56 vs. 55] and beat [120 vs. 118 per min]. Rectal temperature wasn't significant between two sexes [40.6-40.09 C°]. Also skin temperature wasn't significantly different between two sexes [36.02- 36.08 C°]. The only difference was related to month effect [p<0.05]. Sex and month hadn't significant different effects on blood urea, creatinine, glucose and potassium concentration. Blood urea concentration of female sheep was not significantly higher than male's [p>0.05]. Blood Sodium concentration was significantly different between two sexes so that male sheep had the highest minimum average [p<0.05]. There was no significant increase in blood Potassium concentration of female sheep compared to male sheep [p>0.05]
Conclusions: These results indicated that sheep of this region had been well adapted to summer heat stress and they showed usual changes of blood metabolites in response to heat stress
RESUMO
The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect of different antioxidants on the motility and membrane integrity of the ram semen during storage at 5[degree]C for 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hrs after collection and dilution. A total of 57 ejaculates from 12 Bakhtiary rams was collected by artificial vagina and were extended 1 : 3 with egg yolk-citrate buffer, which was containing one of the following antioxidants: BSA 1% [w/v], BSA 3%, BSA 1% + sucrose 10%, BSA 3% + sucrose 10%, vitamin E [1 mg], vitamin E [2 mg], ascorbic acid [0.9 mg/ml] and control group without any antioxidant. Percent of motile sperm [PMS], rate of forward movement [RFM] and membrane integrity in extenders contained vitamin E groups were significantly higher up to 48 hrs than other groups [P<0.05]. Although, addition of 2 mg vitamin E was more effective than 1 mg vitamin E in sperm protection, however, the difference was not statistically significant. Likewise, addition of BSA alone or in combination with sucrose was superior to ascorbic acid in maintenance of sperm motility and membrane integrity. It seems that sucrose has not positive effect on these 3 parameters in combination with BSA. In conclusion, adding vitamin E to the extender of ram semen during dilution is superior in maintenance of sperm kinematic parameters up to 48 hrs during storage at 5[degree]C