Evaluation of chemical characteristics in the semen of nelore sires: values of sodium and potassium.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contents of sodium and potassium and the pH in the semen of Nelore sires. For this, three groups of 20 Nelore sires with an average age of 20.3; 29.7 and 61.1 months under field conditions were utilized. The semen was collected after stimulation through electric ejaculator during the summer of 1985. Data were analysed by the least square method and the differences between age groups by the Duncan's test. The average value for sodium and logarithm of contents of potassium in the semen were: 69.23 ± 12.92 meq/1, CV = 18.68%; 1.50 ± 0.17 mg/100 ml, CV - 11,40% , respectively, while the pH was 6.90 ± 038, CV = 5.47%. The analyses of variance revealed significant effect, P<.05, for groups of ages only for contents of sodium and potassium.