The Effect of Storage Time and Temperature on Fertilizing Capacity of Turkey Semen

Abstract

ONE of the problems in the artificial insemination of turkeys is the short time that semen can be held following collection. Garren and Shaffner (1952) found that the optimum temperature for holding chicken semen was 10°C. and hens inseminated with stored semen did not remain fertile as long as those inseminated with fresh semen. Hunsaker, Aitken and Lindblad (1954) indicated that 15°C. appeared to be the optimum holding temperature for fowl semen but fertilizing capacity was not lowered significantly by holding semen at 10° or 20°C. Fertility was found to decrease rapidly when the storage period was increased beyond two hours. These same authors (1956) observed that the fertilizing capacity of fowl semen declined as the length of the holding period increased, the rate of decline being dependent upon the holding temperature. The least decline occurred when semen was held at 15°C. Semen held at 0°C. maintained a fairly high . . .