Effect of Artificial Light, Temperature, and Humidity on Physiological Response of Dairy Bulls

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Abstract
The influence of artificial incandescent light and ambient temperature on reproductive and physiological responses of 12 dairy bulls was investigated. Significant differences at the 1% probability level in favor of bulls exposed to light were attained for initial progressive motility of sperm, percentage abnormal sperm, livability of sperm at 5[degree]C, methylene blue reduction time, and percentage of shippable ejaculates. However, differences in volume of semen and concentration of sperm were not significant. Serum protein-bound iodine level declined slightly during the period when bulls were exposed to 15 hours of light daily but was essentially equal during the periods with 14 and 16 hours of light. Respiration rates were 29.9 and 30.5 per minute for the 2 groups of bulls exposed to artificial light as compared to 36.8 for the control. The small differences in body temperature among groups were not significant. None of the bulls varied greatly from the adjusted mean body temperature of 101.4[degree]F.