Influence of pre‐insemination douching and different semen extenders on fertility and hatchability of white leghorn eggs

Abstract

1. White Leghorn hens were artificially inseminated twice weekly with undiluted semen or semen diluted (1:3) in Tris buffer, pH 6.8 or saline solution (9 g NaCl/l); with or without pre-insemination douching of the vagina with a solution of ampicillin. 2. Pre-insemination douching reduced the bacterial load of the vagina, resulting in an improvement in fertility and hatchability, with a proportionate reduction in the embryonic mortality. 3. The fertilising and hatching abilities of saline-diluted semen were comparable with those of undiluted semen. 4. Dilution of semen with Tris buffer significantly reduced fertility, but not hatchability.