A new method for rapid determination of sperm concentration in bull and ram semen

A simple method for rapid evaluation of bull and ram sperm concentration is described. In this technique, a sample from an undiluted specimen was placed in a special 10-μm counting chamber and examined either by an ordinary or a phase-contrast microscope. The pattern distribution of the observed spermatozoa was matched as closely as possible with one of five pictures of a standard scale. This scale was prepared from serial photomicrographs that ranged from 100 to 1500 million per ml. The number that appeared at the corresponding photograph immediately indicated the sperm concentration of the tested specimen. In this way values up to 1500 million per ml could be determined rapidly with no further procedures. More concentrated specimens needed slight dilution to make them suitable for direct evaluation. Accuracy and reliability were statistically evaluated; the mean deviation from the conventional method was less than 15.2% with confidence level of 95%.