Semen variables and sperm membrane protein profile of Saanen bucks (Capra hircus) in dry and rainy seasons of the northeastern Brazil (3°S)

The Saanen is a highly productive breed, and for this reason, it has been raised in Brazil, but mostly under climate conditions completely different from where the breed originated. The objective of this study was to investigate variations in semen parameters and sperm membrane proteins from Saanen bucks ( n = 7) raised in Northeastern Brazil, during dry season (September, October, and November) and rainy season (March, April, and May). We showed that during the dry season, sperm motility, concentration, and the percentage of normal sperm decreased as compared to the rainy season. Rectal temperatures of bucks had no significant ( p > 0.05) variations during the dry and rainy seasons. However, temperatures of left and right skin testis were higher ( p