An improved procedure for intramagnal insemination of the chicken.

Intramagnal insemination is a useful technique in the analysis of spermatozoal function. Precise deposition of spermatozoa requires the use of laparotomy. However, hen-day egg production can be adversely affected by such a procedure. The present work demonstrates that postoperative hen-day egg production is affected by choice of anesthetic. Hens anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine and xylazine prior to laparotomy laid 14% fewer eggs (P less than .05) when compared with intact controls. In contrast, the postoperative hen-day egg production of hens anesthetized with xylazine alone was comparable with that of intact controls (P greater than .05). Furthermore, the use of xylazine alone increased the ease of handling sedated hens and decreased recovery time. Therefore, xylazine is recommended for anesthetizing hens prior to laparotomy.