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Scrotal infrared digital thermography as a predictor of seasonal effects on sperm traits in Braford bulls

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal effects of the environment on semen quality in bulls, using infrared thermography. Sperm motility (M), mass motion (MM), and vigor (VIG) were evaluated in sperm samples from 17 Bradford bulls aged approximately 24 months at the beginning of the study. Infrared thermography images and data were collected using an infrared FLIR T 300 camera and Quick Report 1.2 SP2 software to determine the temperature of the proximal and distal poles of the testis and to assess the testicular temperature gradient. The seasonal effects on physiological, seminal, and climatic variables were analyzed by the GLM ANOVA and CORR procedures using SAS®. The microclimatic factors were recorded in hourly intervals, and the daily mean temperature and mean relative humidity were calculated to determine the daily temperature-humidity index (THI) every day for 1 year. The temperature gradient (TG) variations of the testes were significantly higher in the autumn (4.5 °C), winter (4.0 °C), and spring (2.9 °C) compared to summer (0.9 °C) (P < 0.05). Ocular globe temperatures were lower in the winter (27.6 °C) and autumn (26.8 °C) compared to summer (33.9 °C) and spring (31.1 °C) (P < 0.05). The average MM (2.58), M (52.64), and VIG (2.70) of the semen decreased in the summer compared to other seasons (P < 0.01). The TG was negatively correlated with THI (−0.44; P < 0.05). For the seminal variables, MaD (−0.45; P < 0.05) and TD (−0.50; P < 0.01) presented a negative correlation with TG. The TG had a positive correlation between M and VIG, which had values of 0.36 and 0.35, respectively (P < 0.05). We have concluded that infrared thermography can be used to assess the testicular temperature gradient and its consequences on physical and quantitative aspects of sperm.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by The Brazilian Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/CAPES, Brazil (Project CAPES/PNPD no. 2842/2010). The authors thank Rubia Branco Lopes and Claudia Medeiros Camargo for technical help and Nova Aurora and Anjo da Guarda Farms for providing the animals and technical assistance for this study.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, no 7.712, 91540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Silvio Renato Oliveira Menegassi, Júlio Otavio Jardim Barcellos, Vanessa Peripolli & Maria Eugênia Andrighetto Canozzi

  2. Centre for Studies and Research in Agribusiness—CEPAN, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Eduardo Antunes Dias

  3. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Northern Paraná, 86041-120, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Celso Koetz Jr. & Flávio Guiselli Lopes

  4. Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Gabriel Ribas Pereira

  5. University of Brasília and INCT Pecuária, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Concepta McManus

Authors
  1. Silvio Renato Oliveira Menegassi
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  2. Júlio Otavio Jardim Barcellos
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  3. Eduardo Antunes Dias
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  4. Celso Koetz Jr.
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  5. Gabriel Ribas Pereira
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  6. Vanessa Peripolli
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  7. Concepta McManus
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  8. Maria Eugênia Andrighetto Canozzi
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  9. Flávio Guiselli Lopes
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Correspondence to Gabriel Ribas Pereira.

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Menegassi, S.R.O., Barcellos, J.O.J., Dias, E.A. et al. Scrotal infrared digital thermography as a predictor of seasonal effects on sperm traits in Braford bulls. Int J Biometeorol 59, 357–364 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0847-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0847-z

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