Sperm Morphology, please explain those numbers for me.

[sunnyblueskies]

We had our bulls BSE tested for the very first time.
I'll explain, we only buy bulls which have passed the BSE test, but never tested after that. Call it 'going old school'? Let's not get into an argument over that please. Anyway, 6 bulls tested, 5 were satisfactory, 1 yearling, which we just bought had to be re- tested at the breeder (before delivery), he passed the 2nd test, but since the vet was testing all our bulls we had the yearling re-tested ourselves again.

I'm over my head with the sperm morphology, what it all means. Or should I just say 'screw it' with the individual numbers and be satisfied with the Normal %?

As to the yearling bull, he passed, but the vet put him as questionable with a Good density and only a Fair/Good Motility.

I'm confused by the individual morphology numbers and how they get to the normal percentage.

 

[wbvs58]

Are you talking about the crush side testing or the actual morphology results where the semen is sent away to a morphologist to examine under high power microscopes or both?

Ken

 

[Travlr]

We had our bulls BSE tested for the very first time.
I'll explain, we only buy bulls which have passed the BSE test, but never tested after that. Call it 'going old school'? Let's not get into an argument over that please. Anyway, 6 bulls tested, 5 were satisfactory, 1 yearling, which we just bought had to be re- tested at the breeder (before delivery), he passed the 2nd test, but since the vet was testing all our bulls we had the yearling re-tested ourselves again.

I'm over my head with the sperm morphology, what it all means. Or should I just say 'screw it' with the individual numbers and be satisfied with the Normal %?

As to the yearling bull, he passed, but the vet put him as questionable with a Good density and only a Fair/Good Motility.

I'm confused by the individual morphology numbers and how they get to the normal percentage.

This may not be what you are talking about, but sperm can have short tails, no tail, tails cocked to one side, and even double heads or tails. Any anomaly can result in less ability to travel through the mucus environment and failure to fertilize an egg. Lots of things can influence oddly shaped sperm. Every bull has them, but there is a level where they are abnormally more prevalent. I'd consider having a talk with the bull's seller.

 

[moses388]

As to the yearling bull, he passed, but the vet put him as questionable with a Good density and only a Fair/Good Motility.

I am not a veterinarian, but I have had bulls tested. The first ejaculate on virgin yearling bulls is often junk. It's thrown away and a new sample is collected. Good density and good motility sounds like a pass. Yearling bulls are still growing and maturing. The bull will probably test better in another year. I would be concerned if the bull tests worse in one year. Are you going to post the test results page? Bull's age? Scrotal circumference? If the bull is at least 12 months old, his scrotal circumference should be at least 38cm. That's one criteria I use...

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

Cattle sperm morphology refers to the structural characteristics of individual sperm cells, including their shape, size, and arrangement.
It's a key component of bull breeding soundness evaluations, as it's strongly linked to fertility and pregnancy rates. Evaluations assess the percentage of normal sperm and categorize abnormalities, which can be categorized as primary or secondary.

Primary Abnormalities: These occur during sperm cell development in the testes and can include issues with the head, midpiece, or tail.
Secondary Abnormalities: These occur during storage or processing of the sperm.

I have bought expensive semen straws only to be disappointed. And when you pay big money for a straw the last thing you're going to do is thaw it out and put under microscope to see if they swim straight. However once you fail to get them pregnant a few times with those straws, you end up setting up the microscope, thawing one out to find out they're all just swimming in circles because they have crooked tails.

I use an old dude at the Calhoun Stockyard. He charges $85 for a BSE with Trich test, if you bring the bull to him.
We had a bull tested last year and he tested great however his balls were 1 cm smaller so he didn't get a perfect score. So I asked the veterinarian why is there only one standard to measure size cuz I'm pretty certain that all breeds of cattle would have a different size.
....but I didn't get an answer ...I just got to look like I was crazy for asking the question.

 

[kenny thomas]

I hadn't considered the scrotal difference in breds but what your saying makes sense. It seems that a breed that matures at 2000+ might have a bigger scrotal than a breed that matures at 1600. There is many times a good differents within the same breed.
I had one tested in February at 17 months old and 43cm. He was bigger than my 3 year old. I want them to be over 40cm at 2 year old if possible. But that's something only genetics can do.

 

[Travlr]

I've said it before. Scrotal circumference doesn't make sense to me. As long as a bull provides a decent dose of viable sperm I don't see why the size of his nuts makes any kind of difference. It's like thinking a cow with a small bag can't give milk... and there are plenty of small uddered cows that raise big calves.

 

[deff]

Scrotal measuring started when researchers discovered a corellation between larger scrotal measurements and earlier sexual maturity with both the sire and his daughters implying higher fertility. I don't know if it is because of increasing scrotal sizes or simply due to more people testing their bulls, but it seams to me that in northern states, a lot more bulls are culled because of frost damage than there use to be. We once had a mature Salers bull with a tiny 32cm scrotum that routinely bred 40 cows in our pasture as well as nearly the same number across the fence in the neighbors. The neighbor was quite upset until he found out that his very expensive bull was no good!

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Are you talking about the crush side testing or the actual morphology results where the semen is sent away to a morphologist to examine under high power microscopes or both?

Ken

Our Vet does both, they take the sample in the squeeze, or crush as you call it. The sample is inspected under the microscope right there and given a preliminary result. Then he takes it back to the lab and does the morphology. Head, principle, detached heads etc.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

This may not be what you are talking about, but sperm can have short tails, no tail, tails cocked to one side, and even double heads or tails. Any anomaly can result in less ability to travel through the mucus environment and failure to fertilize an egg. Lots of things can influence oddly shaped sperm. Every bull has them, but there is a level where they are abnormally more prevalent. I'd consider having a talk with the bull's seller.

So do I look at the total result of the morphology or look at the individual numbers given in the test, head, midpiece, det. heads etc?

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Are you going to post the test results page? Bull's age? Scrotal circumference? If the bull is at least 12 months old, his scrotal circumference should be at least 38cm.

I could post the numbers yes, just give me a min.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

We had a bull tested last year and he tested great however his balls were 1 cm smaller so he didn't get a perfect score. So I asked the veterinarian why is there only one standard to measure size cuz I'm pretty certain that all breeds of cattle would have a different size.
....but I didn't get an answer ...I just got to look like I was crazy for asking the question.

The forms for our BSE tests gives standards for breeds and yes they are all different minimum per breed.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

I hadn't considered the scrotal difference in breds but what your saying makes sense. It seems that a breed that matures at 2000+ might have a bigger scrotal than a breed that matures at 1600. There is many times a good differents within the same breed.
I had one tested in February at 17 months old and 43cm. He was bigger than my 3 year old. I want them to be over 40cm at 2 year old if possible. But that's something only genetics can do.

Holy crap, over 40?????? What kind of breed do you run?

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Scrotal measuring started when researchers discovered a corellation between larger scrotal measurements and earlier sexual maturity with both the sire and his daughters implying higher fertility.

That's something I learned at this test too and didn't know about, the correlation between size and earlier maturity. How would they have even found that out?
Now it's something new I can stress over........... how many variables are there for me to stress over??

 

[sunnyblueskies]

The results of the yearling. He is a shorthorn.

16 months, bodycondition 4, scrotal 35.

Semen quality: density: good motility: Fair to Good Vet gave him a 78

Sperm morphology
Head: 9 midpiece:1 principle: det. heads: 2 prox drop: 4 acrosome:
% live: NORMAL: 84

The vet labelled him as questionable due to his concern of the semen quality combination, but stated that he might get better with age.

Definitely needs to be re-tested next spring in order to know if he is worth his money.

As I always say, learn something new all the time. I've been married to this farm and these cows for 25 years now, progressing from knowing not much to calling the shots when it comes to our herd. Testing our bulls is new, maybe the new knowledge is worth while and much needed. Who knows.

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

The forms for our BSE tests gives standards for breeds and yes they are all different minimum per breed.

Could I possibly get a copy of that form ? I'm very interested and the different sizing for the different breeds.

 

[Travlr]

So do I look at the total result of the morphology or look at the individual numbers given in the test, head, midpiece, det. heads etc?

It would have to be the total percentage of non-viable sperm. Who cares what the individual reasons are when all of the anomalies result in a bad test...

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

Here is our Bull Brady BSE.
He is an Akaushi. The vet had never heard of the breed . So size wasn't breed specific IMO.
He just sired his first set of calves a few months ago.

 

[wbvs58]

Here is our Bull Brady BSE.
He is an Akaushi. The vet had never heard of the breed . So size wasn't breed specific IMO.
He just sired his first set of calves a few months ago.

View attachment 59678
View attachment 59679

This probably explains the numbers for @sunnyblueskies pretty well.

Ken

 

[sunnyblueskies]

This probably explains the numbers for @sunnyblueskies pretty well.

Ken

Yes it explains results a little bit better, in our forms it's stated a little different. The score for sperm density and motality is only labeled as fair/good/very good/ excellent etc and the total score of this part of the test, let's say 80 %. Which means I don't know what range in numbers is considered good or excellent.

In sperm morphology I just figured it out..... hurray...... if they list 6 under detached heads then that counts for a 6% subtraction from the possible perfect 100%, thus getting to a morphology total of........ in this case, just for math purposes, 94%

Maybe I should just forget trying to understand it all and trust the vet telling me 'yay' or 'nay'.