Effect of Differences in Salt and Hydrogen Ion Concentration on the Fertilizing Ability of Avian Sperm

¹ From the Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Semen from males of a flightless strain was diluted with solutions having different salt concentration and pH, and held at 50– 52°F for 3 –7 hours, following which it was inseminated into White Leghorn females. Varying concentrations and proportions of Na₂HPO₄ and NaH₂PO₄· H₂O were used in the diluents. Fertility was maximum when the freezing point depression of the diluent was between .607 and .639°C, but decreased gradually outside of this range. There was little difference in fertility between pH 6.47 and 7.95, but outside of this range there was a marked decline. The optimum pH appeared to be between 7.03 and 7.27. Motility was found to be an approximate measure of fertilizing ability with varying salt concentration and a poor measure when varying pHs were used. Hatchability was not adversely affected when eggs were fertilized by diluted, stored sperm.