SEMEN QUALITY AND THE NUMBER OF STORED SPERMATOZOA IN THE GENITAL TRACT OF TWO BREEDS OF EGYPTIAN SHEEP

SUMMARY The physical properties were studied in se venty-two ejaculates collected from 18 two years-old rams (9 Ossimi and 9 Saidi). The data were tabulated and statistically analy sed. After slaughtering, the volume of each of the testis and the epididymis were determined by water displacement and averaged; 138.61, 27. 27; and 128.44 and 23.56 cc. in the Ossimi and Saidi rams respectively. The volume of epididymis in the two breeds was significa ntly correlated to the volume of the testis of the same side, and in general it was about 1/5 the volume of testis. The total number of spermatozoa stored in the genital tract averaged 33.115 X 10* in the Ossimi rams and 23.03 X 109 spermatozoa in the Saidi rams. The number of spermatozoa stored in the cauda epididymis constituted 79. 61% and 74.44% of the whole epididymal reserve in Ossimi and Saidi rams respecti vely. In addition the number of spermatozoa stored in the ampulla and vas deverens con stituted 1.29% and 1.79% of the total number of the genital tract in Ossimi and Saidi ra ms respectiely. Correlations between the volume of the epi didymis and the number of spermatozoa stored in it were highly significant (P. 01) (r= 0.58 in Ossimi rams and r= 0.62 in Saidi ra ms).