Comparative effects of two naturally formulated extenders on tom semen preserved for 72 hours at 4 0C

Tom semen dilution and liquid storage requires the identification of suitable extenders in order to expedite genetic improvement and transmission of turkey germplasm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of two naturally made semen extenders, tris egg-yolk orange (TEYO) juice and tris coconut-water orange (TCWO) juice, to preserve semen. For the experiment, five mature toms at the age of reproduction were utilized. Each tom was ejaculated individually followed by pooling of semen. The pooled semen was added to the extender in the ratio of 1:3 (semen: extender). Experimental design was completely randomized design. Samples were immediately examined for microscopic semen quality and further kept for a period of 72h. The microscopic semen quality factors examined were acrosome integrity, viability membrane, and motility in freshly extended semen and semen stored for 72h at every 12h interval. The results showed that percentage sperm motility was significantly (p < 0.05) different among the treatments. Percentage live sperm of TEYO and TCWO extended tom semen were significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the neat semen from 12 to 72h of storage. Significantly greater (p > 0.05) sperm membrane integrity was recorded for TCWO extended tom semen compared to TEYO extended and neat tom semen from 12 to 72h of storage. In conclusion, TCWO extender preserved tom sperm for longer period of storage compare to TEYO extender and un-extended semen, which was evident in motility and membrane integrity result.