Validation of the Turkey Semen Cryopreservation by Evaluating the Effect of Two Diluents and the Inseminating Doses

摘要

Achieving an effective freezing protocol, that is able to preserve the fertilizing ability of turkey semen, is a key aim for the establishment of the first national semen cryobank of autochthonous chicken and turkey breeds within our national project (Tutela della biodiversità nelle razze avicole italiane—TuBAvI). In this regard, we have performed different studies in order to define the best conditions for cryopreservation of turkey semen; namely, we identified an effective freezing protocol which is based on the use of dimethylsulfoxide as a permeant cryoprotectant (CPA) combined with Ficoll as a non-permeant CPA. Here, our purpose was to test this protocol in vivo, by evaluating the effect of two extenders and three inseminating doses. The good fertility and hatching rates achieved here are promising for future studies, in which our cryopreservation protocol will be tested on Italian autochthonous turkey breeds and also to the advantages offered by the extensive use of frozen semen in the turkey breeding industry.