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. 2019 Dec 2;4(1):423–441. doi: 10.1093/tas/txz174

Table 4.

Phenotypic (rP) and genetic (rG) correlations between semen production and quality traits

n r P r G Breed Source
Volume and concentration
2,351 −0.07 −0.19 Holstein Taylor et al. (1985)
2,387 −0.15 −0.42 ± 0.17 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
974 0.04 −0.24 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
301 −0.17 0.06 ± 0.13 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.02 −0.55 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
0.10 0.40 ± 0.20 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Volume and number of spermatozoa
2,351 0.55 0.45 Holstein Taylor et al. (1985)
974 0.86 0.84 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
301 0.70 0.83 ± 0.13 Beef/ Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.61 0.47 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.63 0.66 ± 0.16 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Volume and motility
841 — −0.38 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
515 −0.03 −0.20 ± 0.19 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.05 0.07 ± 0.06 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
974 −0.02 −0.04 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
Volume and motility score
2,387 — −0.03 ± 0.21 Normade Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
301 −0.12 0.21 ± 0.17 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.01 −0.17 ± 0.19 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and progressive motility
515 −0.05 −0.53 ± 0.45 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and percentage of living spermatozoa
2,387 −0.05 −0.16 ± 0.21 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
841 — −0.09 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
515 −0.10 −0.47 ± 0.26 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.01 0.32 ± 0.22 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Volume and abnormality
2,387 −0.13 −0.26 ± 0.24 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 0.0 0.23 ± 0.26 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and percentage of normal spermatozoa
301 −0.13 0.31 ± 0.15 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
841 — 0.32 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Volume and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 0.02 −0.12 ± 0.27 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 0.0 0.43 ± 0.35 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 0.01 0.32 ± 0.28 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Volume and primary abnormalities
841 — 0.33 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Volume and secondary abnormalities
841 — −0.34 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Concentration and number of spermatozoa
717 −0.85 −1.03 Angus Knights et al. (1984)
2,351 0.67 0.72 Holstein Taylor et al. (1985)
974 0.51 0.30 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
301 0.52 0.60 ± 0.17 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.71 0.46 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.68 0.42 ± 0.21 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Concentration and motility
717 1.00 1.01 Angus Knights et al. (1984)
974 0.18 0.04 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
841 — 0.81 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
515 0.01 0.12 ± 0.20 Holstein Druet et al. 2009
787 0.20 0.29 ± 0.04 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. 2019
n r P r G Breed Source
Concentration and motility score
2,387 — 0.67 ± 0.11 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
301 0.23 0.48 ± 0.17 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.02 −0.01 ± 0.20 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and progressive motility
515 0.06 0.35 ± 0.36 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and percentage of living spermatozoa
717 −0.81 0.01 Angus Knights et al. (1984)
2,387 0.47 0.54 ± 0.15 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 0.04 0.29 ± 0.26 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.15 0.37 ± 0.23 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Concentration and abnormal spermatozoa
2,387 −0.07 −0.27 ± 0.24 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 −0.07 −0.34 ± 0.24 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and percentage of normal spermatozoa
841 — 0.36 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
301 0.27 0.41 ± 0.17 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
Concentration and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 −0.02 −0.23 ± 0.24 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.06 −0.33 ± 0.30 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.08 −0.09 ± 0.28 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Concentration and primary abnormalities
841 — 0.36 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Concentration and secondary abnormalities
841 — −0.58 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Number of spermatozoa and motility
974 0.06 −0.01 Lacaune Rams David et al. (2006)
515 −0.03 −0.12 ± 0.25 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.13 0.36 ± 0.08 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
Number of spermatozoa and motility score
717 — −1.04 Angus Knights et al. (1984)
301 0.06 0.50 ± 0.13 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
515 0.01 −0.24 ± 0.29 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and progressive motility
515 0.02 −0.22 ± 0.67 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and percentage of living spermatozoa
515 0.03 −0.18 ± 0.38 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and abnormal spermatozoa
515 −0.05 −0.09 ± 0.38 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and percentage of normal spermatozoa
301 0.07 0.54 ± 0.11 Beef/Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
Number of spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 −0.02 −0.38 ± 0.36 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.03 0.14 ± 0.54 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Number of spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.05 0.33 ± 0.43 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and motility score
515 0.66 0.88 ± 0.06 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and progressive motility
515 0.48 0.74 ± 0.30 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and mass activity
2,424 0.84 0.98 ± 0.01 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Motility and percentage of living spermatozoa
515 0.40 0.58 ± 0.15 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
787 0.54 0.89 ± 0.04 Beef & Dairy Berry et al. (2019)
n r P r G Breed Source
Motility and abnormal spermatozoa
515 −0.20 −0.55 ± 0.19 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and percentage of normal spermatozoa
549 0.38 0.43 ± 0.64 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
841 — 0.51 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
2,424 0.56 0.77 ± 0.09 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 0.17 −0.56 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.11 −0.24 ± 0.24 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.07 0.13 ± 0.23 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility and primary abnormalities
549 −0.31 −0.36 ± 0.55 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
841 — 0.57 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Motility and secondary abnormalities
549 −0.22 0.71 ± 0.89 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
841 — −0.54 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Motility and scrotal circumference
549 0.13 −0.04 ± 0.40 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
1,282 — 0.56 Angus Christmas et al. (2001)
1,281 0.11 0.36 ± 0.29 Angus Garmyn et al. (2011)
2,424 0.42 0.56 ± 0.10 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Motility score and progressive motility
515 0.40 0.71 ± 0.27 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility score and percentage of living spermatozoa
2,387 0.73 0.83 ± 0.09 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 0.31 0.61 ± 0.15 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility score and total abnormalities
2,387 −0.34 −0.68 ± 0.16 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 −0.16 −0.40 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility score and percentage of normal spermatozoa
301 0.55 0.90 ± 0.05 Beef/ Dairy Cross Gredler et al. (2007)
Motility score and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 −0.15 −0.54 ± 0.17 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility score and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.05 −0.02 ± 0.23 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Motility score and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.14 −0.07 ± 0.21 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Progressive motility and percentage of living spermatozoa
515 0.70 0.89 ± 0.17 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Progress motility and total abnormalities
515 −0.24 −0.38 ± 0.38 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Progressive motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 −0.17 −0.39 ± 0.41 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Progressive motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.17 −0.15 ± 0.57 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Progressive motility and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.13 −0.08 ± 0.44 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Mass activity and percentage of normal spermatozoa
2,424 0.52 0.87 ± 0.08 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Mass activity and scrotal circumference
2,424 0.43 0.60 ± 0.10 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and total abnormalities
2,387 −0.37 0.43 ± 0.22 Normande Ducrocq and Humblot (1995)
515 −0.20 0.23 ± 0.29 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and percentage of normal spermatozoa
841 — 0.32 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. 2006
n r P r G Breed Source
Percentage of living spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 −0.15 −0.44 ± 0.28 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 −0.12 0.10 ± 0.39 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 −0.11 0.05 ± 0.30 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and primary abnormalities
841 — 0.33 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and secondary abnormalities
841 — −0.43 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Percentage of living spermatozoa and scrotal circumference
— — −0.24 Nellore Silva et al. (2013)
Total abnormalities and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head
515 0.61 0.71 ± 0.18 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Total abnormalities and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 0.77 0.78 ± 0.16 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 0.36 0.15 ± 0.34 Holstein Druet et al. 2009
Total abnormalities and scrotal circumference
1,282 — −0.32 Angus Christmas et al. (2001)
1,281 -0.11 −0.23 ± 0.18 Angus Garmyn et al. (2011)
Percentage of normal spermatozoa and primary abnormalities
549 −0.57 −0.85 ± 0.63 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
Percentage of normal spermatozoa and secondary abnormalities
549 −0.80 0.16 ± 1.54 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
Percentage of normal spermatozoa and scrotal circumference
549 −0.17 0.36 ± 0.34 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
2,424 0.31 0.55 ± 0.13 Tropical Composite Corbet et al. (2013)
Percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail
515 0.02 0.13 ± 0.39 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal head and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 0.12 −0.43 ± 0.30 Holstein Druet et al. (2009)
Percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal tail and percentage of spermatozoa with an abnormal cytoplasmic droplet
515 0.15 0.06 ± 0.37 Druet et al. (2009)
Primary abnormalities and secondary abnormalities
549 0.17 0.14 ± 0.64 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
841 — −0.87 Line 1 Hereford Kealey et al. (2006)
Primary abnormalities and scrotal circumference
549 −0.09 0.14 ± 0.22 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
1,282 — −0.25 Angus Christmas et al. (2001)
1,281 −0.10 −0.19 ± 0.17 Angus Garmyn et al. (2011)
Secondary abnormalities and scrotal circumference
549 −0.10 1.22 ± 1.57 Hereford, Angus, & Red Angus Smith et al. (1989)
1,282 — −0.40 Angus Christmas et al. (2001)
1,281 −0.05 −0.11 ± 0.19 Angus Garmyn et al. (2011)

n = number of bulls