Effects of storage temperature and extension media on motility of caprine spermatozoa

Abstract

The survivability of caprine spermatozoa was compared in semen extenders prepared from the conventional egg-yolk citrate and goat-milk citrate. Motility was comparable in both sets of extenders during the first 24 hours post-extension when extended ejaculates were stored at either room temperature (28 ^OC) or refrigerator temperature (5 ^OC). Motility in goat milk citrate extenders at 5^OC was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that stored at 28^OC and in egg-yolk citrate extenders at both investigated temperature (p<0.05) 48 hours post extension. Beyond 72 hours of storage, motility in both extenders and at both temperature was less than 40%. The results showed that goat milk in part can replace egg-yolk as a medium for semen extension. Therefore, an extender with concentration of 10-20 % heated goat milk, 70-80% sodium citrate and 10% egg-yolk could be used to store goat semen at 5 ^OC for 2-3 days.

Keywords: Egg-yolk citrate, Goat-milk citrate, Motility, Semen extension, Spermatozoa