Indian Journal of Small Ruminants (The)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of turkey egg yolk on Barbari buck semen chilled and stored at 4°C. Ejaculates from four healthy bucks were collected twice a week by using artificial vagina. Ejaculates following initial evaluation were pooled to minimize the individual variation. Pooled semen sample was divided into six equal parts viz. T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4, T-5 and control. The aliquots were diluted separately with a tris-based extender containing 6% glycerol and 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20% turkey egg yolk respectively while turkey egg yolk was replaced with 3% hen egg yolk in control group to reach the final concentration of 200x10⁶ spermatozoa/ml. Diluted samples were cooled slowlyto4°C. After5 h of chilling the samples were evaluated for per cent live spermatozoa, progressive motility, hypo osmotic swelling test, acrosomal integrity and capacitation like changes. Significantly (P<0.01) higher values for different physical seminal attributes were observed in T-3 followed by T-4, T-2, T-1 and T-5. The values recorded for pattern F (incapacitated spermatozoa) exhibited by spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T-3. Significantly (P<0.05) higher value of pattern B (capacitated sperm) was recorded in T-2 while the spermatozoa-exhibiting patternAR(acrosomal reacted) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T-1. It was concluded that the dilution of semen with extender containing 10% turkey egg yolk imparted better protection against cold shock in Barbari buck semen storedat4°C.