50                                         ABSTRACTS                          [Vol. XXVI, Part I.

The dilution of semen with yolk of different breeds of poultry. (Zur Sperma
verdunnung unter Verwendung Von Eidottern Verschiedener Hühnerrassen,)
AEHNELT E. AND BROCKMANN, P. (1955). Dtsch. Tierarzt. Wschr., Beil. Fortpfl.
U. Bes. der. Haustiere. V (6), 69-72

RESULTS are presented of 'in vitro' and 'in v' trials carried out on goat semen
using yolks of different poultry breeds in the dilutor. The breeds tried were,
New Hampshire, Sussex, Leghorn, and Italians. The sperm dilutor employed was
the Spermasol, a German proprietary preparation containing 30 per cent fresh egg
yolk. A dilution rate of 1:4 was kept throughout. From three adults and one
young buck, 15 ejaculates per buck were taken for trial. Evaluation was done on
the basis of average percentage of progressively motile and live sperms found when
kept in the dilutors containing different yolks.

A distinct overall buck to buck difference was noticed in the first instance.
Semen kept in dilutor containing yolk of New Hampshire gave the best results (70
per cent progressive motility upto 96 hours and longevity upto 185 hours) while
the same in Italians, the worst (70 per cent progressive motility upto 67 hours and
longevity upto 139 hours only).

Out of the 209 first inseminations carried out with semen preserved in the
New Hampshire yolk dilutor, the percentage of non-returns was 85 as opposed to
76 per cent in the case of 205 like inseminations with the Italians yolk dilutor. The
respective percentages of kiddings in the two dilutors were 85 and 74 with 205 and
199 inseminations. In the former, the rate decreased from 91 to 75 per cent while
in the latter, from 85 to 60 per cent with the ageing of sperm from 0-48 hours. The
authors, though unable to throw light on their results, suggest that the yolk of
New Hampshire may be tried with profit in dilution and preservation of bovine
semen. (S.S.P.)