Journal of Reproduction and Infertility 3 (1): 01-07, 2012 ISSN 2079-2166 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.jri.2012.3.1.63113 Corresponding Author: Abadi Amare, School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollo University, P.O. Box, 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia. 1 Quality Evaluation of Cryopreserved Semen Used in Artificial Insemination of Cattle in Selected Districts of Western Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia Tadesse Amare Sisay, Abadi Amare and Zeleke Mekuriaw 1 2 3 College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia 1 School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia 2 Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 3 Abstract: A study was conducted in three purposively selected districts of western Gojjam zone of Amhara National Regional State (ANRS), viz., Bahir Dar Zuria, Mecha and Debub Achefer. The objective of this study was to evaluate post thawed semen quality. Semen characteristics like semen motility, live-dead percentage and morphological abnormalities of frozen semen were assessed. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA (analysis of variance) using SPSS version-16. The motility of frozen semen between regional Artificial Insemination Center (AIC) and districts level not showed significant difference. From the total amount of 200 straws sampled frozen semen, 67.07% have been live and 32.93% were dead. The total major morphological defects showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the region and districts. The regional AIC frozen semen has highly significant (p<0.05) lower defects than districts. But the overall average percentage of major morphological defects (3.7%) was not more than the recommended level 4%. The minor morphological defects of 75% Holstein blood level of frozen semen significantly (p<0.05) was lower than 100% Holstein blood level. Finally, it was concluded that large numbers of spermatozoa were lost due to bad handling, transportation, storage and environmental effects, hence, demanding further investigation on factors which affect semen quality. Key words: Ethiopia %Live-Dead %Motility %Morphological Defects % Post Thawed Semen Quality INTRODUCTION The process of cryopreservation represents an Artificial Insemination (AI) is the oldest and currently towards post-ejaculation maturation and fertilization. The most common assisted reproductive technology and an major disadvantage is that procedures involved in the important tool in animal production [1]. Originally AI was cryopreservation process are harmful to spermatozoa and introduced as a means of preventing spread of venereal even the best preservation techniques to date result in diseases. Today AI represents a much more cost-effective about half of the sperm population that survive the means of disseminating superior genes [2]. AI has been freezing and thawing procedures. Change in temperature most widely used for breeding dairy cattle; 253 million imposes changes on the composition and structure of frozen AI doses and 11.7 million liquid doses are various sperm plasma membrane domains [8], thereby produced worldwide every year [3]. The NAIC produced modifying their function. As it has been demonstrated, and distributed about 100, 000L of liquid nitrogen in the cryopreservation makes damage on sperm membranes, Ethiopia between 1984 and 1993. Whereas the Amhara cytoskeleton, motile apparatus and nucleus, alter cell region AIC produced, 23,590L of liquid nitrogen in 2001. metabolism. Moreover, freezing and subsequent thawing All bull semen used for AI is cryopreserved; allowing procedures render surviving spermatozoa different from long storage times and easy distribution and spermatozoa before cryopreservation. They become very inseminations are generally done by trained inseminators sensitive to any stresses by their environment in vivo [4-7]. as well as in vitro [9, 10]. As a result, fertility from the AI artificial interruption of the progress of the spermatozoa