Effects of diluents, age of semen and insemination doses on viability and fertility of turkey

Thesis Abstract

An investigation was conducted with a total of one hundred and fifty(150) semen samples collected randomly from six (6) toms and one thousandthree hundred and fifty eggs (1350) from forty-five (45) hens to evaluate theeffect of diluents, age of semen and insemination doses on viability and fertilityof turkey semen preserved at ambient temperature. Results of the work revealedthat the semen qualities of those toms used for the work were not statisticallydifferent (P>0.05). The rate of semen survival per hour shows that in diluent(DIII) containing coconut milk a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in ratesof survival of sperm during the 8 hour period was observed. Other diluentspreserved sperm for a reasonable period of time, diluent (D0) lasted for 4 hrs,DI lasted for 5 hrs whereas DII also sustained survival of sperm for above 6hrs before the sharp decline. The level of fertility recorded in all the diluentsusing different dosages showed that diluent D0 containing 0.2ml recorded the

highest yield.

The overall result in this case showed a highly significantdifference (P<0.01). In the aspect of hatchability, diluent DI produced thehighest number of chicks valued 63.48+8.27% .Significantly higher (P<0.01)hatch of fertile eggs and eggs set was obtained from hens inseminated withsemen diluted in DIII than other diluents. From the work, it is evident thatmetabolizable substrates containing coconut milk and other diluents usedproved efficient. The results show that careful improvement and utilization ofthose local and affordable diluents would enhance turkey semen preservation and artificial insemination practice in our local environment.

An investigation was conducted with a total of one hundred and fifty(150) semen samples collected randomly from six (6) toms and one thousandthree hundred and fifty eggs (1350) from forty-five (45) hens to evaluate theeffect of diluents, age of semen and insemination doses on viability and fertilityof turkey semen preserved at ambient temperature. Results of the work revealedthat the semen qualities of those toms used for the work were not statisticallydifferent (P>0.05). The rate of semen survival per hour shows that in diluent(DIII) containing coconut milk a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in ratesof survival of sperm during the 8 hour period was observed. Other diluentspreserved sperm for a reasonable period of time, diluent (D0) lasted for 4 hrs,DI lasted for 5 hrs whereas DII also sustained survival of sperm for above 6hrs before the sharp decline. The level of fertility recorded in all the diluentsusing different dosages showed that diluent D0 containing 0.2ml recorded the

highest yield.

The overall result in this case showed a highly significantdifference (P<0.01). In the aspect of hatchability, diluent DI produced thehighest number of chicks valued 63.48+8.27% .Significantly higher (P<0.01)hatch of fertile eggs and eggs set was obtained from hens inseminated withsemen diluted in DIII than other diluents. From the work, it is evident thatmetabolizable substrates containing coconut milk and other diluents usedproved efficient. The results show that careful improvement and utilization ofthose local and affordable diluents would enhance turkey semen preservation

and artificial insemination practice in our local environment.