Oxytocin administration before sperm collection by transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands in mouflons and bucks

Transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is an alternative technique for sperm collection which decreases negative animal welfare concerns of electroejaculation. However, quality of collected sperm with TUMASG is less than that collected by electroejaculation. Utilisation of TUMASG may not, however, induce strong muscular contractions, so administration of oxytocin before the procedure may improve sperm quality. Therefore, two studies were designed to determine if administration of oxytocin before TUMASG improves the procedure and quality of the collected semen. The first study was performed with anaesthetised mouflons, and the second with non-anaesthetised Gabon bucks. Time length, number of electric pulses applied and numbers of vocalizations were recorded, and sperm characteristics were analysed. The number of electrical pulses and sperm characteristics did not differ with oxytocin administration in mouflons. However, oxytocin administration decreased time length (P = 0.02) and tended to decrease the number of electric pulses needed for induction of ejaculation (P = 0.08) in bucks. The number of vocalizations and sperm variables did not differ when the two procedures were used. In conclusion, oxytocin administration before TUMASG shortened the procedure and tended to decrease the number of electrical pulses needed to induce ejaculation in conscious bucks, thus, decreasing welfare concerns for the animals in which TUMASG is used. Therefore, its routine inclusion in this species should be considered.