Potassium Polymorphism and Its Relation with Mastitis Resistance and Semen Quality in Iraqi Sheep

Background and Objectives The study conducted to indicate the association among blood potassium concentration with some reproduction and physiological traits of Awassi Iraqi sheep. Methods ninety nine Awassi ewes and (20) Rams were enrolled. The ewes were examined for mastitis affection. Semen quality traits were conducted on 20 Awassi rams. Blood potassium was estimated by atomic absorption flame photometer. Results Potassium level of Awassi ewes showed a bimodal distribution, the low potassium (LK) and the high potassium (HK). Blood concentration in LK was 11.69 m. eq. /L. blood, while the HK type means recorded 33.99 m. eq. /L. blood. Potassium level in Awassi rams showed a bimodal distribution also, the low potassium (LK) and the high potassium (HK), and their potassium concentration were 10.62 and 34.97 m. eq. /l blood, respectively. No significant differences in mastitis affection between HK and LK types of Awassi ewes, in spite of mathematical high level in LK ewes was noticed. Awassi LK rams showed significantly higher semen volume than that in Awassi HK rams, 0.60cm and 0.55cm respectively. Awassi HK rams had significantly higher individual motility and high livability sperms percentage (68 % and 74.13 %) than those found in Awassi LK rams (60 % and 70.4 %) respectively. Conclusions The blood potassium concentration useful in election of Awassi sheep breed of high productivity and reproductively also useful in selection of the sheep for breeding with age of two months because the level of potassium concentration in red blood cells be fixed in this age.