Calves' management conditions affect sperm count in adult bulls.

The results suggest that early maternal separation causes long-lasting effects on the functioning of the male reproductive system, evident by reduced production of semen in adult bulls. The data suggest that with a standard of 20 million sperms per straw of frozen semen, 27-78 fewer straws can be obtained from one ejaculate of maternally separated bulls in comparison to the nursed bulls.