Effects of Egg Yolks from Different Avian Species on Boar Sperm Motility and Livability

Abstract

Egg yolk is one of the most widely used components for freezing and cold storage of semen and its action on sperm motility, fertilizing ability and viability are influenced by a large number of factors. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of egg yolk from different avian species, namely the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and Japanese quail (Cortinux japonica) on spermatozoa quality following refrigeration of boar semen. at 8⁰C for 0 hour, 24 and 48 hours. Ejaculate was collected using gloved-hand technique from a mature boar and spermatological parameters were assessed. Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) was used as the experimental extender. The experimental extenders consisted of BTS only as the control, while others consisted of BTS and egg yolk from domestic chicken, turkey and quail respectively. Extended semen samples were assessed for motility and livability after refrigeration at 8 ⁰ C for 0 hour, 24 and 48 hours respectively. Results showed quail yolk to have the best protective effect with respect to the highest sperm motility ( 66.67 % and 63 % ) at both 24 and 48 hours, compared to control, turkey and Japanese quail egg yolk (p < 0.05). Sperm stored in quail egg yolk had the higher livable sperm cells (83 % and 77 %) at 24 and 48 hours compared with control, turkey and quail egg yolk (p < 0.05). This study suggested that quail egg yolk can potentially replace chicken egg yolk in semen extender in refrigeration, but it warrants further evaluation in fertility trials.

Keywords: Egg yolk, Spermatozoa, Extender, Beltsville thawing solution, Refrigeration