A new poultry semen extender 3. Effect of storage conditions on the fertilizing capacity of chicken semen stored at 5 degrees C.

Semen from adult Leghorns was subjected to one of five treatments during storage at 5 degrees C. for periods of up to 24 hr. The effects of dilution rate, storage temperature, presence of seminal plasma, presence of visible light and the semen to air ratio in the storage vessel were studied on the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa after 0, 4 and 24 hr. of storage. The results indicated that the fertilizing capacity of chicken semen stored at 5 degrees C. was equal to that of the unstored controls when semen was diluted and exposed to a light intensity of 129 lux during the entire storage period. Viability of semen stored at 5 degrees C. for 24 hr. was unaffected by storage temperature (5 vs 15 degrees C.), the presence or absence of seminal plasma, or the semen to air ratio in the storage vessel.