The effect of transparent fluid on fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality following insemination of a normal number of stored fowl spermatozoa

Abstract

Pure semen and semen containing 30% transparent fluid (TF) were diluted twofold in Van Wambeke's diluent and stored for 24 h at 2–5 °C. Caged dwarf breeders were inseminated weekly for 5 consecutive weeks with: (a) 0.08 mL of pure, stored semen per hen (310 × 106 sp.), (b) 0.08 mL of semen containing TF (217 × 106 spermatozoa (sp.)), (c) 0.092 mL of semen containing TF (250 × 106 sp.), or (d) 0.025 mL of pure, fresh semen (194 × 106 sp.). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality between the fresh control and the pure, stored semen nor with the supplementation of semen with TF. Key words: Fowl semen, transparent fluid, storage, fertility, hatchability