Neumann D, Kaleta E F, Lierz M
Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 91-93, Giessen, Germany.
Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 2013;41(2):101-5.
Since many psittacine species are endangered and also rare in captivity, the number of offspring produced from breeding is crucial. Many potential breeding birds in species conservation programs are force-paired, and the eggs of many clutches are frequently infertile. Furthermore, male infertility is a common problem. The use of artificial insemination may increase the number of fertile eggs.
In this study, 32 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) were divided into two groups. In one group, the males were endoscopically sterilised. The males of the other group were used as semen donors. After collection using a novel massage technique, semen samples were examined microscopically to assess contamination and quality. Samples with medium to high sperm concentrations, medium to high motility and no contaminants were used for intracloacal artificial insemination of hens in the group with sterile males.
In total, 74.2% of all attempts to collect semen were successful. Insemination resulted in fertilisation of 17 of 23 eggs (73.9%), which was slightly lower than the natural fertilisation rate (88.4%). No negative effects were observed on the oviposition interval of the inseminated hens throughout the entire study.
Easily applicable in veterinary practice, this study demonstrates that the use of artificial insemination may be a valuable tool to address reproductive failure of psittacines in breeding projects.
由于许多鹦鹉种类濒临灭绝且圈养数量稀少，繁殖后代的数量至关重要。在物种保护计划中，许多潜在的繁殖鸟类是强制配对的，而且许多窝卵往往无法受精。此外，雄性不育是一个常见问题。人工授精的应用可能会增加受精卵的数量。
在本研究中，32只鸡尾鹦鹉（虎皮鹦鹉）被分为两组。一组雄性接受内镜绝育。另一组雄性用作精液供体。使用一种新颖的按摩技术采集精液后，对精液样本进行显微镜检查以评估污染情况和质量。精子浓度中等至高、活力中等至高且无污染物的样本用于对绝育雄性组中的母鸡进行泄殖腔内人工授精。
总共，74.2%的精液采集尝试成功。授精使23枚卵中的17枚受精（73.9%），略低于自然受精率（88.4%）。在整个研究过程中，未观察到对授精母鸡产卵间隔有负面影响。
本研究表明，人工授精易于在兽医实践中应用，可能是解决繁殖项目中鹦鹉繁殖失败问题的一种有价值的工具。
