The Visual Guide to
Ovine Reproduction
Male Reproductive System: Semen
Semen Evaluation.
Compound microscope equipped with a stage warmer to evaluate semen for motility (100 X) and for morphology (400 X). For a ram to be classified as excellent, motility should be 71 to 100%; for satisfactory 31 to 70%; for questionable 11 to 30%; for unsatisfactory 0 to 10%.
Smith MC (2006)
Semen Post Thaw.
Normal semen after thawing. One bent tail can be seen near the lower left-hand corner.
Smith MC (2006)
Warming Stage.
Diluted ram semen on a slide with a coverslip is placed on a stage warmer for the evaluation of motility. Normal concentration is 4 billion spermatozoa per milliliter.
Smith MC (2006)
Normal Ram Sperm.
Normal ram semen. Magnification 160 X. Stained smear.
Drost M (1968)
Detached Heads.
Abnormal ram semen. Many detached normal heads. Magnification 160 X. For a ram to be classified as excellent, motility should be 71 to 100%; for satisfactory 31 to 70%; for questionable 11 to 30%; for unsatisfactory 0 to 10%.
Drost M (1968)
Bent Tails.
Abnormal ram semen. Frequent bent tails are due to temperature shock. Magnification 160 X. For a ram to be classified as excellent, motility should be 71 to 100%; for satisfactory 31 to 70%; for questionable 11 to 30%; for unsatisfactory 0 to 10%.
Drost M (1968)
Pus cells.
Abnormal ram semen. Presence of many pus cells. Magnification 160 X.
Drost M (1974)
Neutrophils in Semen.
Giemsa stain shows neutrophils in the semen. In a mature ram this finding is highly suggestive of Brucella ovis infection.
Smith MC (2006)
White Blood Cells in Semen.
Neutrophils (WBC) are commonly found in the semen of mature rams with Brucella ovis epididymitis, but other bacterial infections cause ascending epididymitis in young rams.
Smith MC (2006)