We evaluated the utility of the commercial version of a new sperm-egg binding assay for detection of differences in sperm quality in samples of turkey semen from individual toms. Each sample had a swirl of 2 or more on a scale of 0 to 4. For assays conducted with fresh semen at 4 x 10(6) sperm per well, values ranged from 0.11 to 12% sperm bound to an extract of perivitelline membrane. Within-male variation averaged 0.17 percentage units, based on three ejaculates per male evaluated. Two experiments compared fertility and hatch for hens after weekly insemination with pooled semen from subpopulations of toms classified as having sperm with LOW or HIGH binding. Average fertility and hatch were lower (P < 0.05) for eggs laid by hens inseminated with semen from LOW toms in one experiment. In another experiment, hen fertility was not different between treatments after insemination during Weeks 32 to 39; however, a sharp decline in hatch was observed only for hens inseminated with semen from LOW toms after 40 wk of age. With semen from HIGH toms, hatch remained at > or = 80%. For these experiments, approximately 7% more poults were obtained from hens inseminated with semen from HIGH toms. We demonstrated that the sperm-egg binding assay detects differences in sperm quality between individuals, and these differences influence fertility.

No abstract

Effects on fertility and hatch of eggs laid by hens inseminated with sperm exposed to a synthetic peptide were studied. Pooled semen from 40 randomly selected toms was split and held in vitro for 0 or 24 h before use. Just before insemination, sperm (at 8.33x10(9) sperm/mL) were exposed for 5 min to 0.0, 0.05, 0.25, or 0.50 microM peptide. Hens (28 per group) were inseminated within less than 30 min with 250x10(6) in 30 microL. Two inseminations 24 h before onset of lay were followed by weekly inseminations through 22 or 20 wk. For sperm that was fresh or held 24 h, peptide treatment (P<0.02 or 0.01) and week of lay (P<0.01) affected fertility and hatch of total eggs set. There was no effect of peptide treatment on hatchability of fertile eggs. For fresh sperm, use of 0.25 microM peptide, but not 0.05 or 5.0 microM peptide, increased (P<0.05) fertility and hatch of total eggs set compared with the control (0 microM). Values for fertility were 94 vs. 90% and for hatch were 84 vs. 80%. Increases in hatch were especially evident for fresh sperm after approximately 13 wk of lay.

Semen from Barred Plymouth Rock roosters was cryopreserved with glycerol concentrations of 13 and 16% in a microprocessor-controlled freezer. Thawing and deglycerolation were facilitated by the use of an improved microprocessor-controlled thawing device and high speed dialyzer. Deglycerolated semen (100 mu L; 192 and 154 million sperm, respectively, for the 13 and 16% glycerol concentration) was inseminated into Single Comb white Leghorn hens. Three inseminations were done at 4-d intervals. Eggs were collected for 10 d starting 1 d after the first insemination, and incubated for 4th d. Fertility was determined by candling after the 4th d. Fertility measurements of 62.4 and 65% were obtained from the sperm frozen in 13 and 16% glycerol concentrations, respectively, for the 10-d period.

No abstract