Influence of Storage Length and Diluent Composition on the Potential Viability of Chilled Turkey Semen.

Abstract

The complete dependence in commercial turkey production, on the use of artificial insemination led to the quest for an ideal diluent that can preserve turkey semen for a long period of time. This stud compares t u performance of four different diluents in preserving turkey semen for a period of 72 hours at 5°C. Ten (10) turkey stays averaging 15 kg body weight. 4S weeks of aye. provided water ad libitum and breeders ration of 10 % CP with 2800 kcal/kg metabolizable energy and housed in individual pens were used for the study. Semen, which was collected weekly, pooled, dispensed into Jour different diluents, labelled ,4, B, C and D, with spermatozoa concentration of 2 x 109 m/mI was subjected to semen viability analysis at 0 hour. 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours, respectively. In each instance viability was determined through the determination of spermatozoa Forward progressive movement (FPM). occurrence of morphological dejects and dead cells. Data was generated over a period of 12 weeks. Forward progressive movement in all the diluents decreased significantly (P> 0.05) from 0 hours to 72 hours while the occurrence of morphological defects and dead cells increased significantly (P > 0.05) throughout the storage period. The best performance was observed in diluent D with a percentage Forward progressive movement of 65 %, percentage Abnormal Spermatozoa (AS) of 4 % and percentage Dead Spermatozoa (DS) of 12 % at the end of the storage period. The least performance was that of the diluent C with percentage forward progressive movement of 55 %. Percentage abnormal spermatozoa of 5 % find percentage dead spermatozoa of 20 %. For optimum viability, it is recommended that semen diluted in all the diluents be utilized within 24 hours.