Sperm output and hormone concentrations in Finn and Dorset rams exposed to long- and short-day lighting

Seasonal changes in photoperiod have a substantial effect on sexual behavior and reproduction in rams. Little information is available on sperm output from high libido versus average libido rams subjected to intensive semen collection while being exposed to controlled short versus long photoperiods. Six Finn and six Dorset rams were compared in a reversal design, which allowed rams of both breeds to be exposed to 8 h versus 16 h of light. During each of two 84-d periods rams were subjected twice to an initial depletion of epididymal sperm reserves by collecting up to 26 ejaculates of semen in 3 d, followed by up to 10 ejaculates per day, 1, 3, 5, and 7 d after the initial depletion. A total of 2673 semen samples were collected. Nearly twice as many ejaculates (63.6% of the total) were obtained from Finn rams as from Dorset rams during both the initial and subsequent 3-d sperm depletion periods. This difference in libido was associated with obtaining 33.6 +/- 3.1 x 10(9) sperm from Finn rams versus 10.0 +/- 2.2 x 10(9) sperm from Dorset rams during the initial depletion period (P<0.05). Changes in photoperiod did not affect sperm output (P>0.05) in Finn rams, but may have affected Dorset rams. With 16 h of light, prolactin was significantly (P<0.05) increased in both breeds, particularly in Finn rams. Testosterone in both breeds followed an endogenous rhythm, not affected by the change in controlled photoperiods.