Effect of semen parameters on duration of fertility in layer breeder chicken

Shanmugam, M. and Kannaki, T.R. 2020. Effect of semen parameters on duration of fertility in layer breeder chicken. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(1): 51-53. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of semen parameters on duration of fertility. Eleven birds from White Leghorn and PD3 lines (29 weeks age) were randomly selected for semen collection by abdominal massage. Semen samples were evaluated for different gross semen parameters. Seminal plasma was separated and evaluated for lipid peroxidation and progesterone level. White Leghorn males had significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm concentration, MTT dye reduction activity and membrane integrity (hypo-osmotic swelling test). The semen volume and abnormal sperm were significantly (P<0.05) higher in PD3 line. There were no significant differences in seminal plasma lipid peroxidation and progesterone levels. At 30th week an artificial insemination (AI) trial was conducted using fixed dose of sperm (100 millions) in 0.1ml of semen for studying duration of fertility. Semen from each line was pooled and inseminated into 20 hens of respective lines. No difference in duration of fertility was observed between the two lines. The results of this study indicated that though there were differences in semen quality between the lines it did not influence the duration of fertility.