Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Doi
Abstract
Egg yolk from avian species is used as a common component of most semen extenders because of its wide availability, beneficial effect on sperm viability and protective effect on acrosome against temperature-related damage during semen preservation. This study was carried out to determine the comparative effects of egg yolks from different poultry breeds on viability of refrigerated spermatozoa of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Pooled semen from five intact WAD bucks was diluted with extender containing egg yolks from Normal feather (NF), Nickel neck (NN), Frizzle feather (FF), Nera black (NB), Oba Marshall black (OB) and Yaffa brown (YB) chickens. Following dilution, the semen samples were assessed subjectively after in vitro storage at 5oC for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours as regards progressive sperm motility, acrosome status and abnormalities using a phase-contrast microscope. The results showed that the ability of these egg yolks to sustain progressive motility ranked in this order: OB > NN > NF >YB > NB > FF. Intact acrosome was comparable during the 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of storage and followed similar trend across the egg-yolk types in the extender. Extender containing YB had the highest percentage abnormality at the end of this study. The findings of this study reveal that OB, NN and NF have better protective ability to maintain motility of refrigerated spermatozoa of WAD bucks.Â
