Cryopreservation and fertility of frozen thawed Chegu goat semen

Goats are important livestock species of India. Chegu is a pashmina producing goat native to the cold arid region of Himachal Pradesh (H.P.), India. Semen cryopreservation from six Chegu elite males (aged 2.05±0.40 years; weighed 29.16±2.02 kg) was practiced using Tris Citrate Egg Yolk extender containing 10% EY and 6% Glycerol. Gross semen parameters includes volume (0.80.85±0.07 ml), color (Creamy white to yellowish), concentration (2238.5±231.0 x10⁶ spermatozoa/ml) and mass motility (3.92±0.03). The significant changes (P<0.01) in post thaw seminal parameters (75.48±0.69 v/s 37.38±0.90; progressive motility), viability (75.79±0.95 v/s 48.25±1.78), morphological abnormalities (5.64±0.29 v/s 7.02±0.32) and HOST reactive spermatozoa (64.07±1.75 v/s 43.35±1.79) were observed in present study. Artificial insemination using frozen thawed semen having concentration (150 x10⁶ spermatozoa/straw) from three different bucks was practiced in 40 synchronized goats with conception rate of 42.5 per cent. Non-significant variations amongst different bucks were observed with birth of 1.12 kids per doe and twinning rate of 11.8 per cent. It was concluded that semen cryopreservation along with artificial insemination can be practiced in Chegu goats to improve the population of this endangered species.