Effect of different semen extenders, dilution ratio and storage temperature on fertilizing capacity of Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) semen reared under humid tropical climate

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different semen extenders, dilution ratio and storage temperature on the fertilizing capacity of emu semen. Ten adult male emu birds aged 3 to 4 years were selected and housed individually in pens at the Emu unit, University Research Farm, TANUVAS, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. The male birds were selected based on their readiness to accept human beings and they were reared under standard managemental conditions with Isocaloric and Isonitrogenous standard emu breeder ration. The selected male emus were trained for semen collection by non-teaser method. Among 10 males, only seven males responded and semen was analysed for its macroscopic and microscopic parameters. Highly significant (P<0.001) results were obtained and the overall mean values for mass activity, per cent motility, concentration, per cent live and abnormal spermatozoa are 3.36 ± 0.08, 74.39+0.99, 2.19+0.05 ×10⁹per ml, 87.40±0.67 and 9.15±0.33, respectively. The quality semen samples were selected to study the effect of different semen extenders namely, Lake’s semen extender (LSE), Beltsville poultry semen extender (BPSE), Modified Beltsville poultry semen extender (MBPSE) and IMV avian extenders stored for a short duration of 1, 3 and 6 hours at 25^°C. All four extenders showed better results on semen motility, live sperms and methylene blue reduction test value (MBRT) mostly at 1:3 and 1:4 ratios for 1 hour storage at 25^°C. The per cent motility and live spermatozoa was higher in LSE, IMV and BPSE at 1 hour of storage at 25^°C and MBPSE registered the lowest value. This study ensures the possibility of semen can be diluted and stored for one hour at 25^°C with good fertilizing ability.