Beltsville poultry semen extender. 7. Comparison of commercial diluents for holding turkey semen six hours at 15 C.

The ability of three commercial semen diluents (Minnesota, I.M.V.-French and Universal) and the Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) to maintain the fertilizing capacity of turkey semen held 6 hr at 15 C was examined. Hens were inseminated weekly for 20 wk and hatchability of eggs was determined. Neither candling nor true fertility of semen diluted 1:1 in BPSE, the Minnesota, or I.M.V.-French diluent and held for 6 hr differed significantly from each other. Fertility of semen held 6 hr in BPSE or Universal diluent was lower than their respective unstored controls. No difference in fertility was observed between semen held in Minnesota or I.M.V.-French diluent and their unstored controls. Significantly higher hatch of fertile eggs and of all eggs set was obtained from hens inseminated with semen diluted (0 hr) with BPSE (90 and 86%) than all other diluents. Hatch of fertile eggs was higher from hens inseminated with semen held 6 hr in Universal (90%) and French (86%) extenders and lower for the Minnesota (78%) extender. No difference was observed in hatch of fertile eggs between the BPSE (84%) and French (86%) extender. Hatchability of all eggs set was higher when hens were inseminated with semen held 6 hr in the I.M.V.-French diluent (81%) when compared to hens inseminated with the Minnesota (75%) or Universal diluent (75%). No differences in hatch of all eggs set were noted when BPSE (77%) and the commercial extenders were compared.