Evaluation of citric acid and fructose in the semen of nelore sires of various age groups.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the average concentration of citric acid and fructose in the semen of 3 groups of 20 Nobre sires with an average age of 20.3, 29.7 and 61.1 months under range conditions. The semen was coblected after stimulation through electric ejaculator during the summer of 1985. Data were transformed in logarithm and analysed by the least-square method, and the differences between age groups by the Duncan's test. The average values for citric acid and fructose concentrations were: 2.33 ± 0,30 mg% (CV 12.91%) and 2.17 ± 039 mg% (CV - 17.94%), respectively. There was a significant effect (P < . 05) for age groups with a decrease (P C .05) with the advance of age for both variables.