Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2012, 60(6), 111-116 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201260060111

Effect of different extenders on ram sperm traits during storage

Zdeňka Hegedűšová¹, Ladislav Štolc², František Louda², Libor Čunát³, Jan Vejnar³

¹ Výzkumný ústav pro chov skotu, Rapotín, Výzkumníků 237, 788 13 Vikýřovice, Česká republika

² Katedra speciální zootechniky, Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Praha 6-Suchdol, Česká republika

³ Český svaz chovatelů ovcí a koz, Palackého 1-3, 612 00 Brno, Česká republika

The aim of the study was to test commercial extenders used for short-term and long-term sperm preservation. Semen was collected in the reproduction season, i.e. from June to December. The ejaculates were obtained from single services and the routine analysis of the semen was performed immediately after the collection. The examination included semen volume, colour and texture, sperm concentration and motility, ejaculate turbulence and percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology. The semen was diluted with an extender in the ratio of 1:4. The processed semen was transported in an insulated container at 16-18 °C to the laboratory and stored in a stationary thermostat under the same temperature. Sperm motility tests were performed 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after the placement in to thermostat.
Ejaculates diluted with Ovipro, Optidyl, Triladyl and Andromed CSS gave very good results of viability (81.23 %-83.41 %) after 24 hours of storage. After 48 hours, Ovipro, Andromed, Optidyl and Triladyl gave values above 75 %. The Triladyl extender proved to be a good stabilizing agent, showing consistent results during a long-term storage. It was chosen as a control one for overall assessment. Other preservation media did not show any improving or worsening effects. The extender Ovipro showed a high motility effect in the first 48 hours only, and hence it appears to be the best solution for the short-term preservation.

Keywords: ram, sperm activity, extender

Grants and funding:

The study was supported by the National Agency for Agricultural Research (NAZV) of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture (the project No. QH81324).

Received: June 28, 2012; Prepublished online: July 19, 2013; Published: July 20, 2013  Show citation