Copper, phosphorus and calcium in bovine blood and seminal plasma in relation to semen quality

The mean Cu concentration in blood plasma of bulls of 12 Holstein and 13 Czech Spotted breeds was 22.27 urnol.l" 1 ; P, 1.78 mmol.l" 1 ; Ca, 3.04 mmol.l" 1 ; P:Ca ratio, 0.64. The mean Cu concentration in seminal plasma of bulls was 38.17 u.mol.1' 1 ; P, 12.07 mmol.l" 1 ; and Ca, 3.52 mmol.l" 1 and the P:Ca ratio was 3.31. The relationship between Cu, P and Ca concentration in blood and seminal plasma is expressed by calculated phenotypic coefficients of correlation. Highly significant positive coefficients of correlation (PO.01) were found between the Cu, P and P:Ca ratio in blood and seminal plasma (Cu -r p =0.36, P -r=0.32 and P:Ca ratio r=0.28). In contrast, no positive relationship between the Ca concentration in blood plasma and seminal plasma was found; the calculated coefficient of correlation was negative (r =-0.16). This was probably caused by the higher Ca concentration in blood plasma of bulls.