Influence of storage container for frozen-thawed chicken semen and frequency of insemination on fertility and its duration

Pooled semen was diluted with Lake's solution containing 10.8% (v/v) glycerol. Aliquots of 1.2 mL and .5 mL were transferred to 1.8-mL capacity plastic vials and .5-mL capacity plastic straws, respectively. Semen was processed at 5 C, frozen by cooling at a rate of 3 C/min to -35 C, then plunged in liquid nitrogen. Samples were thawed at 5 C, diluted stepwise, centrifuged, and resuspended with nonglycerolized diluent at 5 C. Fertility and its duration were measured after single or double (insemination on 2 consecutive days) insemination. No significant differences were found in fertility percentages between semen samples frozen and stored in the two types of containers. However, fertility percentages were significantly higher for eggs laid on Days 2 to 5 after double insemination than for eggs laid after single insemination. No such differences were noted in the fertility of eggs laid on Days 2 to 7. Duration of fertility was significantly longer for semen frozen in plastic vials than for semen frozen in straws.

Effects of glycerol on chicken spermatozoa incubated in vitro at 41 C in oviducal and embryonic cell cultures

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of glycerol on the quality and survival of spermatozoa in an in vitro system at 41 C in the presence of oviducal and other tissue cultures. The motility and percentages of abnormal and dead spermatozoa of glycerolized semen were significantly affected in a positive way by the presence of living cells. The most negative effect of glycerol on semen quality was observed with semen incubated in the tissue culture medium alone. Aspartate aminotransferase activity in the culture fluid revealed a harmful effect of glycerol on spermatozoa and culture cells.

Effects of adding acid or base to the diet on semen of heat-stressed, aging broiler breeder males

Males were fed breeder basal diet, basal diet + .67 g NaHCO3, + .43 g NH4Cl, or + .86 g NH4Cl/100 g basal and exposed to diurnal cyclic temperatures of 23.9 to 35 C in chambers from 24 to 54 weeks of age. Males fed basal diet + NaHCO3 or .43 g NH4Cl were significantly heavier in body weight by 32 to 39 weeks of age than males on basal diet. Males fed the NaHCO3 diet produced significantly more semen in the first 16 weeks than males on basal diet. No differences were found in percent packed sperm value (PSV), percent dead sperm, or percent abnormal sperm between semen of males fed NaHCO3 diet and basal diet. Spermatozoal motility was significantly higher for semen of males fed NaHCO3 or NH4Cl diets during the 32- to 39-week age period.

THREE DIETARY PROTEIN LEVELS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SQUAB BROILERS

THREE DIETARY PROTEIN LEVELS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SQUAB BROILERS