Effect of different semen diluent on fertilizing ability in turkey breeders

A study was carried out to find out the suitable semen diluent for turkey breeders. Twenty healthy adult toms and thirty six hens (Beltsville small white) were selected were equally divided in to 3 groups having 12 birds in each. Group 1, 2 and 3, hens were inseminated with the turkey semen diluted at 1:2 ratio using CARI poultry semen diluent, BPSE and Lake&s diluent respectively. Semen volume, motility, concentration, liveability, abnormality, seminal plasma total protein and enzymes and fertility were evaluated under different storage periods (0, 6 and 12h). Higher (P<0.05) sperm motility, live spermatozoa and low dead sperm was noticed in fresh semen than stored semen. The seminal plasma total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase did not show any significant (P>0.05) difference between fresh and stored turkey semen. The mean activity of AST indicated significant difference (P<0.05) between fresh and 12h stored semen samples with higher (172.00±2.16IU) activity observed in 12h stored semen. The hens inseminated with CARI diluent diluted semen showed significantly (P<0.05) higher overall fertility (92.86 ± 2.70 %) compared to Lake and BPSE semen diluent. It was concluded that CARI semen diluent showed superior fertility than other two tested diluents.