@conference {41125,
	title = {Effect of very low sperm doses on pregnancy rates after AI in sheep.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {59},
	year = {1999},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {219-222},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Low sperm numbers and ambient temperature storage are two important factors in the successful AI system for dairy cattle in New Zealand. A critical evaluation of these factors with ram semen is required before the establishment of a similar AI system within the NZ sheep industry is feasible. A trial involving a total of 1262 Romney ewes was conducted in April 1998 to examine the effects of inseminate dose (25, 5, 1 and 0.5 x 106 sperm) of semen held for up to 9 h at 20{\textdegree}C in two diluents (RSD-1 and RSD-8). Ewes, synchronised with 3 types of CIDR devices were laparoscopically AI{\textquoteleft}ed with semen from either a Finn or a Romney ram at set times (49 or 56h) after CIDR removal. AI was spread over 4 days in each of two consecutive weeks. Rams were used on each alternative day. Ewes were checked for return to service to determine pregnancy. There was a significant (P<0.001) difference between rams in pregnancy rate (Finn =35.6 and Romney =52.5\%). There was an effect (P<0.001) of inseminate dose (25 = 55.5 {\textpm} 2.6\%; 5 = 45.2 {\textpm} 2.6\%; 1 = 37.2 {\textpm} 2.6\% and 0.5 = 37.5 {\textpm} 2.6\%). However there was a suggestion of an overall dose by ram interaction with the Romney semen maintaining higher fertility at lower dose levels. There were no effects of inseminator or of diluent. Time from CIDR removal to oestrus had a significant (P<0.05) effect. Time to onset of oestrus was affected by CIDR type. While there was no overall effect of CIDR type on fertility, there was a significant (P<0.05) interaction between sperm dose and CIDR type. These results indicate that acceptable (>50\%) fertility can be achieved with sperm dose rates as low as 1.0x106 if semen quality is satisfactory thus increasing the number of inseminates per ejaculate 20-50 fold. Improved synchrony methods seem imperative to obtaining better fertility from AI. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Parr J and Murray GR and Clarke A and Oliver JE and McDonald RM and Duganzich DM}
}
@conference {41126,
	title = {Seasonal changes in the protein content and composition of ram seminal plasma},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {59},
	year = {1999},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {223-225},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Seasonal changes in ram semen composition are accompanied by changes in fertility of frozen semen. These changes in fertility are not all easily explained simply in terms of the changes seen in sperm numbers per ejaculate. The possibility that changes in the composition of seminal plasma may be involved in the seasonal changes in ram fertility needs to be considered. An experiment that examined the protein content and composition of seminal plasma was conducted. Semen samples were collected from 10 rams ( 5 each from the BV -ve and  BV +ve selection lines for early lambing) and the seminal plasma separated by centrifugation. Samples were collected with AV in the first week of each month for 12 months (after a 4-day period of abstinence). The protein concentration was determined and the samples were subjected to electrophoresis by SDS-PAGE using mini gels. Seminal plasma samples from all rams for each month were analysed on the same gel for each of the 12 months. In addition samples for all 12 months for each ram were also analysed on the same gel. The seasonal changes in seminal plasma protein profiles were recorded. There was a seasonal change in the total protein concentration of seminal plasma with higher levels (36.9 vs 23.0 mg/ml, P<0.001) observed during the breeding season (January to June). In the rams selected for out-of -season breeding (BV-ve) protein levels were also elevated in December and again in June and July. Several protein bands that were present in seminal plasma from all rams during the breeding season were absent from a number of rams during the non-breeding season (August to December). Their absence was confirmed on larger format 1D SDS-PAGE gels. The majority of these proteins fell between 20 and 70 kDa molecular weight. The absence of these proteins from seminal plasma coincides with the time of the year when we observed poor maintenance of motility in fresh semen and a reduction in the velocity of frozen/thawed sperm from semen collected from the same rams.
Further work is required to identify and characterise these proteins and to elucidate their function and role in ram fertility.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Parr J and Murray GR and McDonald RM and Lee RS-F}
}
@conference {41023,
	title = {Effect of sperm dose, diluent type and timing of insemination on pregnancy rates in sheep.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {186-188},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Low sperm numbers and ambient temperature storage are two important factors in the successful AI system for dairy cattle in New Zealand. Similar technologies with ram semen are required before the establishment of a similar AI system within the NZ sheep industry is feasible. A trial involving a total of 1200 Romney ewes was conducted in April 1997 to examine the effects of inseminate dose (50, 25, or 5 x 10--6 sperm) of semen held for up to 9 h at 20{\textdegree}C in two diluents (RSD-1 and Tris + egg yolk). In the first half of the trial ewes were laparoscopically inseminated with semen from Finn rams at set times (49 and 56 h) after CIDR removal, while in the second half of the trial ewes were inseminated with semen from Romney rams following the detection of oestrus, after CIDR removal, resulting in insemination times of 26, 44 and 49 h post removal. Returns to service in the cycle following AI were recorded and ewes were scanned for pregnancy 50 days post AI. There was a significant difference between ram breeds in pregnancy rate (Finn 63.2 \% v Romney 50.2 \% ; P<0.05). There were no effects of inseminate dose nor of diluent. Time to onset of oestrus was affected by ewe live weight (P<0.05) with the heavier ewes showing a trend for an earlier onset but there was no overall effect of ewe weight on fertility. The effect of time to onset was reflected in an effect of time from CIDR removal to AI in the second half of the trial, with ewes AI{\textquoteright}d within 30h of CIDR removal having a 10\% lower fertility. These results indicate that acceptable fertility can be achieved with semen dose rates 5 to 10 fold less than normal, thereby increasing the number of inseminations available per ejaculate. Improved synchrony methods seem imperative to obtaining better fertility from AI. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Parr J and Murray GR and Clarke A and Oliver JE and Duganzich DM}
}
@conference {41022,
	title = {Relationships between laboratory measures of ram sperm competence and field fertility.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {181-185},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Previous work has show poor relationships between the maintenance of sperm motility and fertility after AI of ram semen. New laboratory tests of sperm competence have been developed but their relationship to fertility needs to be established. Two large scale trials involving the laboratory evaluation of straws of frozen semen from different rams and the field AI of ewes with the same batches of semen were conducted. In Trial A, 1671 ewes were AI{\textquoteleft}d with 52 batches of semen from 26 rams on 6 farms. In Trial B 6872 ewes were AI{\textquoteleft}d with 137 batches of semen from 34 rams on 25 farms. In Trial A, there was no linkage between farms while in Trial B the same batch was used on more than one farm and most farms had more than 1 batch from more than 1 ram. Laboratory evaluation involved: visual motility assessment post thaw and time taken to drop to 5\% motility when incubated at 38{\textdegree}C, 8 parameters of velocity and direction of motility using CASA; \% live and \% acrosome intact and sperm concentration. These parameters were measured immediately post-thaw and in Trial B a repeat measurement was made after 6h at 38{\textdegree}C. In addition, in Trial A the relative IVF value was determined. In Trial A there were significant (P<0.05) between farm and ram within farm effects on fertility (\% pregnant) but no ejaculate within ram effect. Significant (P<0.001) differences were seen in all semen parameters except initial motility, time to 5\% and concentration. Parameters correlated with fertility were IVF and \% live and together these accounted for 44 \% of the variation. In Trial B, there were effects of farm on fertility (P<0.001) and breed of ram (P<0.05), residual ram variation was non-zero but not significant. There were significant differences between rams and between ejaculates within rams in concentration, visual motility, \% live, velocity and directional parameters. The number of live and motile sperm inseminated was correlated (P<0.001) with fertility. Significant (P<0.05) correlations were also obtained between two CASA parameters; the \% live and \% visual motility, after 6h of incubation. Multiple regression equations were derived that accounted for between 62 and 75 \% of the variation between rams. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Parr J and Murray GR and Clarke A and McDonald RM and Duganzich DM}
}
@conference {40952,
	title = {Effect on time of year of treatment and selection for out-of-season breeding on the superovulatory response in ewes.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {57},
	year = {1997},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {258},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Previous results (Greaney, et al.,1991.) indicate that season of year has little effect on the response parameters of MOET although interactions between breed and season were recorded. Flocks within a breed have been selected for differences in seasonal lambing patterns based on ewe lambing date (Smith, et al.,1992). This trial reports the effects of this selection on the production and quality of embryos following superovulation at two times of the year as part of the cryogenic conservation process for these flocks.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and McGowan LT and Murray GR and Parr J and Pugh PA and Tervit HR}
}
@conference {40948,
	title = {Evaluation of different staining techniques for determination of membrane status in spermatozoa.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {57},
	year = {1997},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {246-250},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Changes in the composition and integrity of spermatozoal membranes occur both during the normal capacitation and acrosomal reactions involved in the fertilization processes and as a result of different handling and storage procedures. Techniques to monitor these changes are essential to any study on methods of sperm preservation and such techniques should be both accurate, simple and rapid to apply. A series of tests were conducted to evaluate a range of staining techniques to measure the integrity of the sperm plasma membrane (permeable membrane indicates non-viable sperm) and to measure the status of the acrosomal membrane (indication of capacitation and acrosomal reaction). The possibility of a combination of stains to provide simultaneous answers to both parameters was also attempted. Semen both fresh and frozen from both rams and bulls was used. The stains evaluated were: Nigrosin-Eosin (NE), Nigrosin-Eosin- Giemsa (NEG), Hoechst 33258 vital stain as both wet and dry mounts, Carboxyfluorescein and Propidium Iodide (CF-PI), SYBR-14 and Propidium Iodide (SYBR-PI), Pisum sativum -fluorescein isothiocynate (PSA-FITC), Chlortetracycline (CTC) and a FITC- labelled monoclonal-antibody (Mab) to an acrosomal protein. The techniques were graded for their accuracy, ease of use, equipment requirements and also for repeatability or adaptability to spermatozoa in different media. No single or combination of techniques proved suitable for both plasma and acrosomal membranes and most techniques varied in their suitability for different semen preparations. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Murray GR}
}
@conference {40841,
	title = {Use of bovine oocytes for the evaluation of ram semen},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {56},
	year = {1996},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {304-306},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of a range of procedures used to  evaluate the fertility of ram semen. This paper reports on the development of  a heterologous IVF test, using bovine oocytes for the evaluation of frozen  ram semen. An initial comparison of frozen bull (B) and ram (R) sperm with  bovine oocytes using either TALP or SOF media showed a significant  (P<0.001) species by media interaction on the percentage of fertilised  oocytes (B-TALP 88.2},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Murray GR}
}
@conference {40511,
	title = {Effect of diluent and storage time on pregnancy rate in ewes after intra- uterine insemination},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {53},
	year = {1993},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {295-298},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Liveweight gain, wool weight, wool characteristics, age of onset of oestrus and animal health data were recorded for purebred Awassi (n=37) and Coopworth (n=40) lambs in quarantine from birth to six months of age. No significant differences, between the Awassi and Coopworth lambs were recorded in: birth weight, liveweight gain (birth to weaning), and liveweight gain (weaning to 6 months). A trend for the Coopworths to have greater liveweight gains was noted. Significantly less wool was clipped from Awassi lambs (0.83 },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Smith JF and Asher GW and Briggs RM and Morrow CJ and Murray GR and Oliver JE and Parr J and Veldhuizen FA and Upreti GC}
}
