The primary objective of this research was to study the effects of breed, age, season, and their interactions on semen morphological characteristics. The study was done on 329 bulls (271 Friesland and 58 Jersey) aged 12, 24, 36,48, 60, 72, 84, 96 and> 96 months. The collection of semen was carried out using the artificial vagina method in all four seasons of the year. Spermatozoa were screened for the percentages normal sperm, percentage and total major defects such as knobbed acrosome, pyriform, abnormal lose head, dag defects, nuclear vacuole, degenerative heads, mid-piece reflexes, percentages and total minor defects such as normal lose heads, distal droplets, curled end-piece, lose acrosome. Statistical analyses of the data were done using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analyses System (SAS, 1999). The results of the study indicate that breed did not significantly affected the percentage normal sperm and percentage major sperm defects, but significantly affected the percentage minor defects (P = 0.01). The Least square means (LSM±SE) for the percentage normal sperm, major defects and minor defects in Friesland and Jersey bulls were 80.6 ±1.06%; versus 78.9±2.31 %; 14.8±0.90% versus 15.0± 2.62%, 5.1±0.43% versus 7.6±0.94%, respectively. The results obtained show that the prevalence of sperm defects that differed significantly between breeds was higher in Jersey bulls compared to Friesland bulls. The results of the study indicated the percentage of normal sperm to differ (P = 0.01) with season. The percentage of normal sperm during the summer, autumn, winter and spring, were 72.8±1.6%, 79.4±2.2%, 82.5±2.4% and 84.4±2.4% respectively. Season also affected the percentage of major defects (P = 0.01) and percentage of minor defects (P = 0.03). The results demonstrate that even though there was a higher variation in sperm morphology with season, better sperm morphology was recorded in spring and winter than summer and autumn. Results also indicate the percentage of normal sperm (P = 0.05) and major defects (P = 0.01) to be affected significantly by age. On the other hand, the percentage of minor defects did not differ significantly with age. Bulls of 36-48 months of age showed better semen quality than bulls older than 72 months and bulls younger than 36 months. The percentage of major defects, particularly the incidence of major defects such as knobbed acrosomes, pyriforms, dag defects and broken flagella were significantly affected by the interaction between age and breed (P = 0.05) and age and season (P = 0.05). There was an increase in the susceptibility to these sperm defects in Jersey bulls with an increase in age, while no variation was observed in Friesland bulls. With age and season combined, young bulls recorded poor semen morphology during winter, while old bulls showed poor morphology during summer. In conclusion, the study suggested that breed, age and season and their interactions are important sources of variation in sperm morphology. For a successful AI programme, semen collection should be done at the age of 36-48 months for both breeds. It is therefore recommended that age, breed and season should be given urgent attention in any bull management system employed in South Africa in order to obtain the best semen quality. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Animal Production))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

O presente estudo mensura o impacto no preço dos atributos de qualidade nos tourinhos da raça Nelore comercializados em leilões por meio de uma metodologia específica, baseada na Teoria dos Preços Hedônicos. Para tanto, utilizou-se como amostra três leilões - 368 observações - de uma fazenda padrão, o Nelore Jandaia. Assim, os atributos dos animais que mais contribuíram para a formação dos preços, em um primeiro plano, foram: a qualidade genética como um todo, expressa através do Mérito Genético Total - MGT, e a qualidade fenotípica global, demonstrada pelo índice EPMURAS. Em um segundo plano, mais específico, agregaram mais valor aos jovens reprodutores características relacionadas à precocidade e fertilidade do lado genético a Diferença Esperada na Progênie - DEP para perímetro escrotal aos 365 dias (dpe365) e no lado fenotípico a nota de precocidade. Por exemplo, os animais com MGT excelente tiveram um prêmio médio de 22% a mais em relação aos considerados como bons, paralelamente os com EPMURAS excelente tiveram um prêmio de 11% em relação aos classificados como muito bons, ceteris paribus. Para cada ponto a mais na precocidade e na DEP dpe365 o valor dos animais comercializados aumenta em, respectivamente, 5% e 5,8%, ceteris paribus. Do exposto, pode-se concluir que se os pecuaristas dedicados ao melhoramento dos seus rebanhos privilegiarem em seus objetivos de seleção animais com excelentes atributos de fertilidade e precocidade receberam prêmios superiores por isso. Em outras palavras, focar a seleção em precocidade e fertilidade agrega valor aos animais. / This study measures the impact on the price of quality attributes in Nelore steer sold at auction by a particular methodology, based on the theory of hedonic prices. To this end, we used as a sample three auctions - 368 observations of a standard farm, Nelore Jandaia. Thus, the attributes of animals that contributed most to the price formation were the genetic quality as a whole, expressed through the Total Genetic Merit - MGT, and the overall phenotypic quality, as demonstrated by the index EPMURAS. In a second model, more specific, added more value to young breeding characteristics related to precocity and fertility - the genetic side of the Expected Progeny Difference - EPD for scrotal circumference at 365 days (dpe365) and on the phenotypic note of precocity. For example, animals with excellent MGT had an average premium of 22% more than for those considered as good, along with the excellent EPMURAS had a premium of 11% over rated as very good. For each point on precocity and DEP dpe365 the value of animals traded increases, respectively, 5% and 5.8%, ceteris paribus. From the above, we conclude that if the farmers devoted to the improvement of their herds give priority in their selection goals animals with excellent attributes of fertility and precocity will receive premium for it. In other words, focus the cattle selection on fertility and precocity adds value to animals.

O presente estudo mensura o impacto no preço dos atributos de qualidade nos tourinhos da raça Nelore comercializados em leilões por meio de uma metodologia específica, baseada na Teoria dos Preços Hedônicos. Para tanto, utilizou-se como amostra três leilões - 368 observações - de uma fazenda padrão, o Nelore Jandaia. Assim, os atributos dos animais que mais contribuíram para a formação dos preços, em um primeiro plano, foram: a qualidade genética como um todo, expressa através do Mérito Genético Total - MGT, e a qualidade fenotípica global, demonstrada pelo índice EPMURAS. Em um segundo plano, mais específico, agregaram mais valor aos jovens reprodutores características relacionadas à precocidade e fertilidade do lado genético a Diferença Esperada na Progênie - DEP para perímetro escrotal aos 365 dias (dpe365) e no lado fenotípico a nota de precocidade. Por exemplo, os animais com MGT excelente tiveram um prêmio médio de 22% a mais em relação aos considerados como bons, paralelamente os com EPMURAS excelente tiveram um prêmio de 11% em relação aos classificados como muito bons, ceteris paribus. Para cada ponto a mais na precocidade e na DEP dpe365 o valor dos animais comercializados aumenta em, respectivamente, 5% e 5,8%, ceteris paribus. Do exposto, pode-se concluir que se os pecuaristas dedicados ao melhoramento dos seus rebanhos privilegiarem em seus objetivos de seleção animais com excelentes atributos de fertilidade e precocidade receberam prêmios superiores por isso. Em outras palavras, focar a seleção em precocidade e fertilidade agrega valor aos animais. / This study measures the impact on the price of quality attributes in Nelore steer sold at auction by a particular methodology, based on the theory of hedonic prices. To this end, we used as a sample three auctions - 368 observations of a standard farm, Nelore Jandaia. Thus, the attributes of animals that contributed most to the price formation were the genetic quality as a whole, expressed through the Total Genetic Merit - MGT, and the overall phenotypic quality, as demonstrated by the index EPMURAS. In a second model, more specific, added more value to young breeding characteristics related to precocity and fertility - the genetic side of the Expected Progeny Difference - EPD for scrotal circumference at 365 days (dpe365) and on the phenotypic note of precocity. For example, animals with excellent MGT had an average premium of 22% more than for those considered as good, along with the excellent EPMURAS had a premium of 11% over rated as very good. For each point on precocity and DEP dpe365 the value of animals traded increases, respectively, 5% and 5.8%, ceteris paribus. From the above, we conclude that if the farmers devoted to the improvement of their herds give priority in their selection goals animals with excellent attributes of fertility and precocity will receive premium for it. In other words, focus the cattle selection on fertility and precocity adds value to animals.