An attempt to improve the fertility of stored fowl semen with certain additives in a basic diluent.

The following substances were added to a basic diluent for fowl semen either separately or in combination: caproic acid, formaldehyde, acetyl carnitine, adenine, inosine, sodium pyruvate, succinic acid, dithiothreitol, sodium citrate and zinc, chloride, bicarbonate and phosphate. No significant improvement in the fertility of semen stored at 5 degrees C for either 24 or 48 hrs was obtained over that produced with the basic diluent. Dithiothreitol and sodium citrate caused a marked lowering of fertility when present in the diluent.