The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of bull spermatozoa collected from the cauda epididymis stored at 18-20°C, which were compared with semen collected by electro-ejaculation method and preserved at 5°C. Ten pairs of testes from Tabapuã bulls were removed by orchiectomy and stored for 6 (G6), 12 (G12), 18 (G18), 24 (G24) and 30 (G30) h at room temperature (18-20°C). Seven days before orchiectomy, semen was collected by electro-ejaculation method. The sperm parameters evaluated were: sperm motility, vigor, concentration, morphology and acrosome defects. Sperm motility declined (p<0.05) when spermatozoa were stored for 30 h in the epididymis. The spermatozoa from the epididymis showed lower sperm motility than that of spermatozoa collected via electro-ejaculation. There was a little expressive decrease in sperm vigor and increased in morphological defects with storage time, but the acrosome integrity was not affected. Cold storage (5°C) maintained sperm viable for 15 to 40.8 h. Thus, it was possible to recover viable sperm with 41.25% of motility from the cauda epididymis stored at room temperature of 18-20°C for 30 h. There were differences between the ejaculated and epididymal sperm for the bulls and the conservation at 5°C allowed short-term preservation of the gametes.

The aim of this work was to study estrus synchronization and fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI) in dairy buffaloes during season anestrus. One hundred thirty-nine dairy buffaloes in seasonal anestrus were divided in two groups as G1(n=66) and G2(n=73). The protocols for both the groups were the same until day (D)14:D0 administration of 2.0 mg estradiol benzoate and implantation of progesterone device (P4) for 14 days; D14 removal of P4 plus 150 mg of cloprostenol and 400 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin. On D16, G1 received 10 mg of buserelin and G2 100 mg deslorelin acetate. On D17, both the groups were submitted to FTAI. Ultrasonographic examinations of ovaries were performed on D0, D14, D16 and D17. Results showed that pregnancy rates in G1 and G2 were 20 and 41% (p<0.05) and the ovulation rates were 16.6 and 37%, respectively (p<0.05). The dominant follicle (DF) diameter on D16 was 7.9 mm in G1 and 8.9 mm in G2 (p>0.05). Thirty-five percent of the animals in G1 and 54.1% in G2 showed a diameter DF greater than 8.0 mm on D16 (p>0.05). Thus, it could be concluded that the protocols synchronized the estrus, leading the concentration of the parturitions in the period of low milk production. Deslorelin was more efficient than buserelin due the higher percentage of DF ovulation and higher pregnancy rates.