ABSTRACT

A 60-day trial using 12 West African dwarf rams that are sexually mature (2-3 'ears old) was conducted to evaluate the effects of Gonadotrophin (pergon®) on dai lsperm production, gonadal and cxtragonadal sperm reserves, haematologv and hormonu profile. The 12 mature rams were divided into 3 treatment groups. Identiheci as A, B and ( each treatment roup consisted of 4 rams with (one) mature ram per replicate in a ('ninpletelv Randomized 1)esign (CRD) with three levels of pergonal as treatment. The ic els of pergonal were 0, 19.26 1.U. and 39.0 LU. represented as A,B, and C respectively Pergonal treatment was by intramuscular injection. A, which contained no peronal" served as the control. The animals were fed 2 times a day, in the moraine and c'eiiini. Water was given liberally to the animals. The results showed that there "crc no significant (P>0.05) differences between the treatment groups in dail sperm production. daily sperm production pei gram testis, gonadal and corpus sjerm reserves. I h" ever.there were significant (P<0.05) differences between the treatment groupS in caput. cauda and 'as defurcis sperm reserves. 'Ihe results further showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences between the treatment groups in hormonal, haematological and serum biochemical values except follicle stimulating hormone (FSI-1), potassium (K') ion. Alkaline phosphatase and Aspartate transaminase values which were significantly (P<0.05) different between the treatment groups. The results also showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the treatment groups in body weigh. scrotal circumference, height at withers, penis, testis and testicular paretichymal eights. However, there were significant (P<0.05) differences between the treatment groups in caput, corpus, cauda and vas deferens weights. High correlations were found between scrotal circumference, withers height, testis weight. penis weight, caput weight and daily sperm production and gonadal sperm reserve. The results of this study indicate that apart from daily sperm production and haeniatologicai values, the hormonal pm Ok. serum biochemical parameters and sperm reserves of WAD rams may be affected 'hicn 19.26 l.0 or more of pergonal are used for induction of spermatogenesis. Hence even though the blood and hormonal parameters fall within the normal ranges reported 0r sheep, the variations observed suggest tile need to constantly monitor these parameters during pergonai treatment in WAD rams.