Relative efficacy of egg yolk and soya milk-based extenders for cryopreservation (−196°C) of buffalo semen

Abstract

The aim was to compare commercially available soybean milk-based extenders, viz. Bioxcell and Optixcell (IMV, France) with standard Tris-citrate-fructose-egg yolk-glycerol (TFYG) extender for cryopreservation of buffalo semen. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected twice a week in artificial vagina from six sexually mature, 4-6 years old, healthy breeding bulls of Surti buffalo breed. In all 48 qualifying ejaculates (8 per bull) having initial motility >70% were split into three equal aliquots and were diluted (at 34C keeping 10010 6 sperm ml -1 ) in TFYG, Bioxcell and Optixcell extenders. The French mini straws filled from each aliquot were gradually cooled to 4-5C, equilibrated at 4C for 4 h and frozen in liquid nitrogen 2 vapor using programmable biofreezer. Just before freezing (post-equilibration) and 24 h after frozen storage, the samples were evaluated for various sperm quality parameters using standard protocols. Frozen semen straws were thawed in a water bath at 37C for 30 s. The post-thaw incubation survival (37C for 1 h) was assessed through motility rating at 0, 30 and 60 min of incubation.