Semen collection, evaluation and fertile period in Khaki Campbell and White Pekin breeds of ducks

Abstract

Collection and evaluation of semen are the first critical steps for examination of male fertility, gamete preservation and development of artificial insemination technology in ducks. Induced teaser method and manual massage method of semen collection were evaluated for the ease and reaction time in White Pekin and Khaki Campbell breeds of ducks. Semen characteristics and length of fertile period were examined in both the breeds. Method of semen collection in both the breeds of ducks did not affect semen volume and quality parameters. However, reaction time and hypo-osmotic swollen spermatozoa percent differed significantly with the method of semen collection. The length of fertile period in White Pekin is longer than Khaki Campbell ducks during artificial insemination while it was reverse during natural mating. Our findings indicated that manual message method of semen collection in ducks may be practised for a successful artificial insemination programme as the drakes can be habituated for the semen collection by massage method and donate semen quickly without much difficulty and alteration in semen quality.