{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,2]],"date-time":"2025-11-02T07:15:38Z","timestamp":1762067738004,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,19]],"date-time":"2022-09-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1663545600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The objectives of the study aimed to evaluate the effect of weather conditions and scrotal circumference (SC) on standard semen characteristics of Italian Simmental young bulls (n = 577), all raised in the same performance station and sampled by the artificial vagina (AV) method. Considering the increasing SC, the results showed a significant increase in quantitative semen parameters (p &lt; 0.05 and p &lt; 0.0001, for sperm concentration and total number of spermatozoa, respectively); for every extra centimeter of SC, 17.5 \u00d7 106 spermatozoa\/mL and 0.102 \u00d7 109 of total spermatozoa were produced. The age of the animal at semen collection (395 and 465 days) had similar positive effects. The effect of the average temperature humidity index (THI limits \u2264 40 and \u226570) in the previous 60, 30, and 10 days before the semen collection was also considered. Sixty days before the semen collection, the increasing THI increased both primary (p &lt; 0.0001) and secondary (p &lt; 0.0001) abnormalities while the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa decreased (p &lt; 0.0001). Thirty and ten days before collection, the same effect on morphological traits was maintained, but total and progressive motility was also influenced (p &lt; 0.01) with an unexpected increasing pattern. Thus, environmental conditions can influence semen quality during the entire spermatogenesis and results can guide future research on this breed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12182476","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,19]],"date-time":"2022-09-19T21:47:27Z","timestamp":1663624047000},"page":"2476","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Environmental Factors Affecting the Reproductive Efficiency of Italian Simmental Young Bulls"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Francesca","family":"Corte Pause","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1651-7795","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Crociati","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy"},{"name":"Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Susy","family":"Urli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6506-6794","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maurizio","family":"Monaci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy"},{"name":"Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Degano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian Association of Simmental Breeders (ANAPRI), Via Ippolito Nievo 19, 33100 Udine, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7421-4931","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Stradaioli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2015.12.011","article-title":"Prediction of bull fertility","volume":"169","author":"Utt","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"423","DOI":"10.1093\/tas\/txz174","article-title":"Selection for bull fertility: A review","volume":"4","author":"Butler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Transl. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2016.03.001","article-title":"Bull breeding soundness, semen evaluation and cattle productivity","volume":"169","author":"Chenoweth","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Koziol, J.H., and Armstrong, C.L. (2018). Manual for Breeding Soundness Examination of Bulls, Society of Theriogenology. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"38","article-title":"La gu\u00eda VART: Propuesta para estandarizar la valoraci\u00f3n de la aptitud reproductiva de toros en espa\u00f1a. Parte 1: Valoraci\u00f3n sanitaria","volume":"324","author":"Gnemmi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Prod. Anim."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"35","article-title":"La gu\u00eda VART: Propuesta para estandarizar la valoraci\u00f3n de la aptitud reproductiva de toros en espa\u00f1a. Parte 2. Valoraci\u00f3n Reproductiva del Toro por Ultrasonograf\u00eda","volume":"325","author":"Gnemmi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Prod. Anim."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3321","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(98)75898-9","article-title":"Enviromental, Management and Genetic Factors Affecting Semen Production in Holstein Bulls","volume":"81","author":"Mathevon","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2005.09.002","article-title":"Effects of age and environmental factors on semen production and semen quality of Austrian Simmental bulls","volume":"95","author":"Schwarzenbacher","year":"2006","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"s36","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731118000514","article-title":"Review: The effect of nutrition on timing of pubertal onset and subsequent fertility in the bull","volume":"12","author":"Kenny","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"s158","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731118000538","article-title":"Review: The use of bull breeding soundness evaluation to identify subfertile and infertile bulls","volume":"12","author":"Barth","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"973","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(95)00284-F","article-title":"The determination and correlation of reproductive parameters of performance-tested Hereford and Simmental bulls","volume":"44","author":"Johnson","year":"1994","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Whittier, W.D., and Bailey, T. (2009). Predicting Bull Fertility, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia University. Available online: https:\/\/vtechworks.lib.vt.edu\/handle\/10919\/23633."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-0720(15)30341-8","article-title":"The new Society for Theriogenology Breeding Soundness Evaluation System","volume":"13","author":"Hopkins","year":"1997","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(85)90186-4","article-title":"Association of scrotal circumference with semen traits in young beef bulls","volume":"24","author":"Gipson","year":"1985","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.3329\/bvet.v26i2.4952","article-title":"Relationship between scrotal circumference and semen parameters in crossbred bulls","volume":"26","author":"Latif","year":"2009","journal-title":"Bangladesh Vet."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1985.60189x","article-title":"Estimates of genetic correlation between testicular measurements and female reproductive traits in cattle","volume":"60","author":"Toelle","year":"1985","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3809","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2009-2127","article-title":"Additive genetic relationships between scrotal circumference, heifer pregnancy, and stayability in Nellore cattle","volume":"88","author":"Eler","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2010.04.012","article-title":"A description of the findings from bull breeding soundness evaluations and their association with pregnancy outcomes in a study of western Canadian beef herds","volume":"74","author":"Waldner","year":"2010","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1071\/AN13044","article-title":"Genetic correlations of young bull reproductive traits and heifer puberty traits with female reproductive performance in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia","volume":"54","author":"Johnston","year":"2014","journal-title":"Anim. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"670","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1976.423670x","article-title":"Postpuberal changes in semen production of Charolais bulls ejaculated at high frequency and the relation between testicular measurements and sperm output","volume":"42","author":"Almquist","year":"1976","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(79)90072-4","article-title":"Bovine testicular measurements as indicators of reproductive performance and their relationship to productive traits in cattle: A review","volume":"11","author":"Coulter","year":"1979","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1976.4319","article-title":"Heritability Of Testicular Size And Consistency In Holstein Bulls","volume":"43","author":"Coulter","year":"1976","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.5455\/vetworld.2013.405-408","article-title":"Physical and morphological characteristics of Kankrej bull semen","volume":"6","author":"Patel","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet. World"},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Lubis, T.M., Putro, P.P., Junaidi, A. (2011, January 23\u201330). Characteristics of frozen-thawed semen on Simmental and Limousin bull in Ungaran, Indonesia. Proceedings of the Annual International Conference Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"847","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2012.12.014","article-title":"Effects of season, age, and breed on semen characteristics in different Bos taurus breeds in 32-year retrospective study","volume":"79","author":"Snoj","year":"2013","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.14737\/journal.aavs\/2014\/2.11.632.637","article-title":"Effect of Season on Semen Quality of Crossbred (Karan Fries) Bulls","volume":"2","author":"Bhakat","year":"2014","journal-title":"Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2007.02.007","article-title":"Breeding soundness examination of Chianina, Marchigiana, and Romagnola yearling bulls in performance tests over a 10-year period","volume":"67","author":"Sylla","year":"2007","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9502","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2019-18089","article-title":"High temperature-humidity index compromises sperm quality and fertility of Holstain bulls in temperate climates","volume":"103","author":"Hostens","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5623","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2018-15837","article-title":"Relationships between climate and sperm quality in dairy bull semen: A retrospective analysis","volume":"102","author":"Lundeheim","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biosystemseng.2019.10.017","article-title":"Animal-related, non-invasive indicators for determining heat stress in dairy cows","volume":"199","author":"Hoffmann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biosyst. Eng."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104525","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2021.104525","article-title":"Feeding efficiency and behavior of young Simmental bulls selected for high growth capacity: Comparison of bulls with high vs. low residual feed intake","volume":"249","author":"Romanzin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Barth, A.D., and Oko, R.J. (1989). Abnormal Morphology of Bovine Speramtozoa, Iowa State University press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(1999). SAS Users\u2019 Guide: Statistics Ver. 8, SAS Institute, Inc."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"1","article-title":"Bull Semen Collection and Analysis for Artificial Insemination","volume":"4","author":"Barszcz","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Noakes, D.E., Parkinson, T.J., and England, G.C.W. (2008). Arthur\u2019s Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Saunders Ltd.. [8th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"35","article-title":"Effect of Age and Breed on Semen Quality and Breeding Soundness Evaluation of Pre-Service Young Bulls","volume":"6","author":"Lemma","year":"2015","journal-title":"JRI"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hafez, B., and Hafez, E.S.E. (2000). Reproduction in Farm Animals, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. [7th ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119265306"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.21157\/j.ked.hewan.v16i1.23487","article-title":"Productivity and fresh semen characteristics of Simmental bulls of different ages","volume":"16","author":"Satrio","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. kedokt. Hewan."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1951.101211x","article-title":"Spermatozoan motility as a measure of semen quality","volume":"10","author":"Lasely","year":"1951","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"1","article-title":"Guidelines for using the bull breeding soundness evaluation form","volume":"10","author":"Chenoweth","year":"1993","journal-title":"Theriogenol. Handb."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(77)83832-0","article-title":"Seminal Quality, Spermatozoal Output, and Testicular Changes in Growing Holstein Bulls","volume":"60","author":"Foote","year":"1977","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-4320(96)01498-4","article-title":"Influence of season, age, breed and some other factors on the variation in sperm morphological abnormalities in Swedish dairy A.I. bulls","volume":"44","author":"Janson","year":"1996","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"274","article-title":"Factors affecting breeding soundness classification of beef bulls examined at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine","volume":"43","author":"Barth","year":"2002","journal-title":"Can. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.3168\/jdsc.2021-0164","article-title":"Bull fertility and semen quality are not correlated with dairy and production traits in Brown Swiss cattle","volume":"3","author":"Mapel","year":"2022","journal-title":"JDS Commun."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2189","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-021-02184-z","article-title":"Environmental temperature and relative humidity differently affect the sperm characteristics in Brown Swiss and Belgian Blue bulls","volume":"65","author":"Gloria","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Biometeorol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2020.05.014","article-title":"Heat stress and bull fertility","volume":"153","author":"Morrel","year":"2020","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2013.09.001","article-title":"Understanding and evaluating bovine testes","volume":"81","author":"Kastelic","year":"2014","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1246","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2011.05.031","article-title":"Scrotal insulation and its relationship to abnormal morphology, chromatin protamination and nuclear shape of spermatozoa in Holstein-Friesian and Belgian-Blue bulls","volume":"76","author":"Rahman","year":"2011","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1560","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2008.07.005","article-title":"Effect of scrotal insulation in Nellore bulls (Bos Taurus indicus) on seminal quality and its relationship with in vitro fertilizing ability","volume":"70","author":"Fernandes","year":"2008","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1530\/jrf.0.0690711","article-title":"Spermiogram and sperm reserves in hybrid Bos indicus x Bos Taurus bulls after scrotal insulation","volume":"69","author":"Wildeus","year":"1983","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Fertil."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(93)90291-C","article-title":"Effects of elevated testicular temperature on morphology characteristics of ejaculated spermatozoa in the bovine","volume":"40","author":"Volger","year":"1993","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"935","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(96)00023-4","article-title":"Insulating the scrotal neck affects semen quality and scrotal\/testicular temperatures in the bull","volume":"45","author":"Kastelic","year":"1996","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"595","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731109991273","article-title":"Effect of age on spermiogram of Holstein Friesian x Sahiwal crossbreed bulls","volume":"4","author":"Mandal","year":"2009","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_54","first-page":"783","article-title":"The proportion of beef bulls in western Canada with mature spermiograms at 11 o 15 months of age","volume":"42","author":"Arteaga","year":"2001","journal-title":"Can. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1159","DOI":"10.1016\/S0093-691X(96)00287-7","article-title":"Breed and other effects on reproductive traits and breeding soundness categorization in young beef bulls in Florida","volume":"46","author":"Chenoweth","year":"1996","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_56","first-page":"72","article-title":"Influence of breed, season and age on quality bovine semen used for artificial insemination","volume":"8","author":"Hirwa","year":"2017","journal-title":"IJLP"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1511","DOI":"10.1016\/S0093-691X(02)00662-3","article-title":"Effect of precocious collection on semen output and quality in young Holstein bulls","volume":"57","author":"Sourbe","year":"2002","journal-title":"Theriogenology"}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/18\/2476\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:34:29Z","timestamp":1760142869000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/18\/2476"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,19]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"18","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9]]}},"alternative-id":["ani12182476"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani12182476","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2076-2615"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,19]]}}}