TY - JOUR AU - Mozo, René AU - Galeote, Ana Isabel AU - Alabart, José Luis AU - Fantova, Enrique AU - Folch, José PY - 2015 DA - 2015/11/26 TI - Evaluating the reproductive ability of breeding rams in North-Eastern Spain using clinical examination of the body and external genitalia JO - BMC Veterinary Research SP - 289 VL - 11 IS - 1 AB - Predicting the ability of rams to detect, mate and fertilise ewes in oestrus accurately is certainly difficult; however, tests based on clinical examinations have been performed to assess the overall potential capacity of rams to serve and impregnate ewes. Clinical examinations for breeding soundness evaluation were carried out in 897 Rasa Aragonesa (RA) rams from 35 flocks in North-Eastern (NE) Spain. Clinical examinations of head, trunk, limbs and genitals were performed in each ram. Blood samples were collected for a serological study of Brucella ovis. The sheep owners were surveyed regarding the characteristics of the flock, rams’ health history and the management of rams. The clinical alterations found were classified according to severity (mild or severe). Rams were classified as suitable (without lesions or with only mild lesions) or unsuitable (with severe lesions) for breeding depending on the results of the clinical examinations. SN - 1746-6148 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0600-9 DO - 10.1186/s12917-015-0600-9 ID - Mozo2015 ER -