Fertility Of Fresh Semen Research Articles

Efficiency of Different Diluents and Dilution Rates on the Fertilization Potential of Chicken Spermatozoa

Background: Artificial Insemination (AI) has been well established to obtain better fertility than natural mating. Semen extension and preservation play a major role in AI technique. The concentrated nature of chicken semen entails dilution of semen for easy handling and storage. With the availability of a wide range of extenders, exploring various extenders and dilution rates supplement the reproductive efficiency achieved through modern AI techniques.Methods: Pooled semen samples obtained from twenty White Leghorn breeder males were split equally into three portions, each for CARI poultry semen diluent, EK extender and Tselutin extender. At 1:2 dilution rate, the samples were subjected to sperm motility analysis from 0 to 96 h and AI was targeted at 0 and 24 h of semen collection. Fertility was assessed by candling of eggs collected from 2 to 8 days post insemination at 9th day of incubation. Further investigation of different dilution rates (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, 1:10, 1:12, 1:14, 1:16, 1:18, 1:20) on fertility of fresh semen was done using the superior diluent.Result: Upon analysis, sperm motility showed no significant difference among the diluents at 0 h storage while CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior motility (%) at the subsequent storage periods, followed by EK and Tselutin extender. Higher fertility (p less than 0.05) was expressed in the diluents of CARI and EK at 0 h storage, whereas CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior fertility pattern (p less than 0.05) followed by EK and least by Tselutin extender at 24 h semen storage. Further investigation of different dilution rates using CARI diluent, exhibited fertility (p less than 0.05) of 90% and higher at 1:2 and 1:4 dilutions, followed by 1:6 and 1:8 at 2 to 6 days of fertile period.

Breeding soundness evaluation and reproductive management in Baldras sport horses

Morphometric characterization, breeding soundness evaluation and reproductive management of 33 sport horses (14 mares and 19 stallions) belonging to Palace Administration was carried out for 6 months from January to June/2014. Animals were also subjected to condition scoring, and detailed evaluation through ultrasonography, semen analysis and fertility test using AL The overall age, BCS and body weight were 15±5.7 years, 5.2±1.3 and 327.7±33.3 Kg, respectively. Stallions were significantly older than the mares while mares were heavier with relatively poorer BCS. Body weight was significantly correlated with girth both in mares (p<0.05; r=0.97) and stallions (p<0.05; r=0.68). Comparison of body morphometry among mares, studs and neutered stallions showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in loin length, front and hind leg height, and head length. BCS and scrotal circumference of the breeding stallions (n=12) were highly correlated (P<0.05; r=0.60). The length of estrous cycle and estrus in the breeding mares were 16.1±3.5 days and 7-12 days, respectively. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the total number of follicles among the mares. The mean (±SD) diameters of the first-largest and pre-ovulatory follicles were 24.3±9.23 mm and 29.4±9.19 mm, respectively. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the diameter of the preovulatory follicles among the breeding mares. Fresh semen was generally characterized by poor motility (<50%), small live percent (54.3%), high gel volume (>40%) and very poor freeze ability (<10% in total motility of frozen thawed semen) however, fertility of fresh semen was 50%. Poor performances are signs of inbreeding that also render the studs unfit for breeding. A proper reproductive management is required to mitigate further loss of performance and influence of inbreeding depression.Keywords: breeding soundness, morphometry, semen analysis, sporting horses, ultrasonography

Combined effect of DHA and α-tocopherol enrichment on sperm quality and fertility in the turkey

The aim of the present study was to characterize the dietary effects of n − 3 LC-PUFA and α-tocopheryl acetate (vE) on the quality, phospholipid fatty acid composition, α-tocopherol content (α-T) and in vitro susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in turkey semen. Fertility of fresh semen was also evaluated. Male turkeys were randomly divided and fed either a control diet or a fish oil and vE rich diet (FO diet) from 40 to 60 weeks of age. The FO diet increased the proportion of n − 3 fatty acids in spermatozoa and as a consequence the ( n − 3)/( n − 6) ratio also increased. These changes did not affect the proportion of n − 9 PUFAs, particularly of C22:3 n − 9, in semen. The sperm content of α-T was dependent by the dietary supplementation of the vitamin and the sperm content was more than doubled supplying 120 mg kg −1 of feed to the males compared to the 60 mg kg −1 of feed in the control diet. In agreement with the major content of α-T in spermatozoa collected from the FO group were significantly less susceptible to in vitro induced oxidation. The reproductive capacity of the male breeders was not affected by the diet; however the result is considered of some relevance for field conditions where even very small changes have economic interest being applied to large bird population.

Reproductive period affects lipid composition and quality of fresh and stored spermatozoa in Turkeys

Semen of Turkeys between 31 and 52 weeks of age was analyzed to investigate the cause of reduction in Turkey fertility at the end of the reproductive period. Sperm motility and viability, lipid concentration, fatty acid composition and lipid peroxides were evaluated on fresh spermatozoa or spermatozoa stored for 48 h at 4 °C. Fertility of fresh semen was also evaluated. Fertility obtained with fresh semen decreased at 44–47 weeks of age. Ageing was also accompanied by a decrease in sperm viability (at 47 weeks) and later by a decrease in motility of spermatozoa (at 52 weeks). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were the first lipids of fresh spermatozoa affected by age, especially n-3 and n-9 PUFAs. Changes in these PUFAs were followed by a 30% increase in lipid peroxidation at 47 and 52 weeks of age and a reduction in phospholipid content at 52 weeks. In vitro storage did not cause lipid peroxidation in sperm obtained during the first half of the reproductive period but malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly increased in sperm obtained during the second half of this period. In vitro storage also decreased phospholipid content of spermatozoa from 41 weeks of age, and viability and motility regardless of age. In conclusion, lipid alteration mainly originating from PUFAs peroxidation could partly explain the decrease in semen quality and fertility observed with ageing. In addition, lipid peroxidation was increased during in vitro storage of spermatozoa from older Turkeys.

Equine frozen semen: Freezability and fertility field results

The freezability of stallion semen defined as the number of selected ejaculates/total number of ejaculates frozen from 161 different stallions was analyzed. Of the stallions, 19, 30, 27 and 24% had a freezability of 0%, 0 to 33%, 33 to 66%, over 66%, respectively In 85 different stallions, the correlation of freezability between first and second year was 0.60 (P < 0.001). The relationship between fertility with fresh and frozen semen and freezability was analyzed in 40 stallions whose freezability and fertility information was recorded during 5 years. There was a strong relationship between fertility of fresh semen and semen freezability (P < 0.001). However, the relationship between fertility of frozen semen and freezability was not as marked (P < 0.05). Analysis of the field fertility per cycle results when mares were bred with 300 or 150 × 10 6 total spermatozoa at different frequencies until ovulation indicated that mares that were inseminated 2 times or more per estrus show an improved fertility in comparison with mares inseminated only once (34%, n = 1576 vs 26%, n = 626; P < 0.001). Foaling rate when mares were inseminated with frozen semen (1858 mares during 8 breeding seasons) was mainly influenced by mare age (< 16 years: 54% vs ≥ 16 years 42% p < 0.001). Date of first insemination (before May 15: 58% vs after May 15: 37%) also had a significant effect on foaling rate (P < 0.001).

Eight Generations of Selection for Duration of Fertility of Frozen-Thawed Semen in the Chicken

The response to eight generations of selection for duration of fertility of frozen-thawed chicken semen, the correlated responses of other fertility parameters of frozen-thawed semen and the fertility of fresh semen, and the heritabilities of frozen-thawed and fresh semen were studied. The selected and control lines were derived from a base meat-type control male population developed at Peel's Poultry Farm Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario. Selection has improved duration of fertility of frozen-thawed semen significantly (P<.01) with the mean increasing from 1 day in Generation 1 to 5 days in Generation 8 and an average improvement per generation of .29 day since Generation 3. There were significant (P<.01) correlated increases in percent fertility for 2 to 8 days postinsemination and percent fertility for the duration of fertility of frozen-thawed semen as well as the fertility of fresh semen. Percent hatchability of fertile eggs of frozen-thawed semen did not change. In Generation 8, means and standard errors of fertility parameters of frozen-thawed semen in the selected and control lines, respectively, were: 38.54 ± 1.39 and 25.58 ± 1.77 for percent fertility for 2 to 8 days postinsemination, 47.73 + 3.54 and 32.02 ± 2.17 for percent fertility for the duration of fertility, and 78.21 ± 1.56 and 79.27 ± 2.53 for percent hatchability of fertile eggs. For fertility of fresh semen, means and standard errors were : 12.69 ± .20 and 11.54 ± .42 for duration of fertility, 82.91 ± 1.45 and 75.71 ± 2.83 for percent fertility for 2 to 8 days postinsemination, and 71.89 + 1.25 and 69.22 ± 2.06 for percent fertility for the duration of fertility.The means of the heritability estimates of the fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen, respectively, ranged from .01 to .31 and —.01 to .21. The realized heritability of duration of fertility of frozen-thawed semen, based on five generations, was .17 ± .05.The phenotypic correlations of duration of fertility of frozen-thawed semen with percent fertility for 2 to 8 days postinsemination and percent fertility for the duration of fertility of frozen-thawed semen were high and positive and correlations between fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen were low but positive.

Genetic Variation in Fowl Semen Cholesterol and Phospholipid Levels and the Relationships of These Lipids with Fertility of Frozen-Thawed and Fresh Semen

We studied the influence of five and six generations of selection for duration of fertility of frozen-thawed fowl semen on spermatozoa and seminal plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels, their ratios, and their relationships with fertility of frozen-thawed and fresh semen. Males from the selected and control line were used. Cholesterol and phospholipid levels were determined in 2 trials for spermatozoa and in a single trial for seminal plasma per generation.The selected line had significantly (P<.01) higher fertility for both frozen-thawed semen and fresh semen.Spermatozoa cholesterol level, cholesterol to phospholipid ratio, and seminal plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels were significantly (P<.05) lower in the selected line than in the control line; spermatozoa phospholipid to cholesterol ratio was significantly (P<.05) higher in the selected line but spermatozoa phospholipid level and seminal plasma lipid ratios were not changed significantly (P>.05). The heritability estimates of spermatozoa cholesterol and phospholipid levels ranged from zero to .66 and zero to .81, respectively.The phenotypic correlations of spermatozoa and seminal plasma cholesterol with fertility of frozen-thawed semen were negative as were the phenotypic correlations of seminal plasma cholesterol with fertility of fresh semen.

A Note on the Relationship Between the Fertility of Fresh Semen and that Stored Varying Lengths of Time, and the Effect of Storage on Duration and Percent Fertility.

Twenty four Single Comb males of the Ottawa Meat Control Strain were used to examine the effect on subsequent fertility of storing chicken semen for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. With increasing storage time, there was a significant (P < .01) decline in fertility as estimated by percent and duration of fertility. The decrease in percent fertility exhibited a linear relationship with storage, whereas the decline in duration of fertility with storage was quadratic. Percent and duration of fertility were correlated within storage times, but in no case was there a correlation between percent and/or duration of fertility at different storage times.