Relationship of the number of spermatozoa inseminated to fertility of turkey semen stored 6 h at 5 degrees C.

The relationship was investigated between turkey hen fertility and the total number and the number of viable spermatozoa inseminated, after semen storage for 6 h at 5 degrees C. The minimum numbers of total and viable spermatozoa necessary for high fertility during the first 15 weeks of production were respectively 175 and 150 X 10(6) weekly. The number of viable spermatozoa produced by breeding males decreased with age. Adjusting the insemination dose of viable spermatozoa weekly over 15 weeks resulted in a consistent high rate of fertility.