A comparison of inbred and outbred sheep on two planes of nutrition. 3. A note on the effects on semen characteristics before and after exposures to acute cold and heat

Abstract

Traits associated with fitness such as aspects of reproduction (for a review see Lamberson and Thomas, 1984) and lamb survival (Wiener, Woolliams and Macleod, 1983) are seriously affected by inbreeding. Homeostatic control is an important component of fitness in animals. In an experiment reported by Wiener, Woolliams and Slee (1988) and Slee, Wiener and Woolliams (1988), inbred (I) rams were far less able to resist acute cold than outbred (O) rams. The opportunity was taken in this same experiment to examine the effects of inbreeding, plane of nutrition (high (H) or low (L)) and exposures to acute cold and heat on aspects of semen quality.