Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) is very helpful in solving the reproductive and biodiversity problems observed in small, closed avian populations. The successful production of fertilized eggs using AI is dependent on the collection of good quality semen. Two methods of male sexual stimulation and semen collection from captive kept capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.), one of the most seriously endangered grouse species in Europe, are compared in this study. Ejaculates were obtained either with the use of a dummy female or by the dorso-abdominal massage method. Differences in the individual responses of the males to the two methods of semen collection as well as in their semen quality were noted. Only sperm concentration (432.4 x 106 mL-1 with dummy female and 614.5 x 106 mL-1 for massage method) was significantly affected by capercaillie stimulation method. Sperm motility and morphology were not affected (P≥0.05). Thus, for semen collection from captive kept capercaillie both methods can be used successfully. The dummy female can be an alternative to dorso-abdominal massage method, commonly used for semen collection from domesticated bird species.
Highlights
In the past few decades, there has been an increasing interest in assisted animal reproduction in both domesticated and captive bird populations
In the domesticated bird species, the necessity of using the most common method of assisted reproduction, i.e. artificial insemination (AI) depends on many factors including: when significant weight differences exists between the male and female; when the breeder flock is kept in cages [4]; to create the intergeneric hybrids [5], [6], [7]; to detect and eliminate some diseases and pathogens transferred during natural mating, in waterfowl possessing intromittent copulatory organs [8],; and to eliminate injury of aged, infirm, or behaviourally incompetent males
In the present experiment we wanted to evaluate the efficiency of male stimulation by a dummy method, as stimulation is more similar to natural mating, and probably less stressful to capercaillie males, and to compare the effectiveness of two semen collection methods and their impact on ejaculate quality
Summary
In the past few decades, there has been an increasing interest in assisted animal reproduction in both domesticated and captive bird populations. In our previous experiment carried out on capercaillie we collected semen by the modified dorso-abdominal massage method [34].
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