Fertility results after insemination of a moderate count of cock sperm, diluted in Blumberger cock sperm diluent and homologous seminal plasma

Incomplete studies into artificial insemination of White Leghorn hens appear to suggest that the generally common number of cock spermatozoa per insemination can be considerably reduced without adverse consequences for reproduction results. Fertilisation rates between 89.4 and 94.9% were recorded from inseminations of as little as 20 x 10(6) spermatozoa, based on tenfold dilution of ejaculate collections in Blumberg Cock Sperma Diluent (BCSD) or homologous seminal plasma or differentiated combinations of both. Addition of increasing amounts of seminal plasma, however, caused decline in hatching rates as a result of rising embryonic mortality. Best suitability was recorded from a diluent combination of 75% of BCSD with 25% of seminal plasma, with the hatching rate being 85.0%.