Artificial insemination of Bobwhite quail

The purpose of this study was to determine whether fertilisation of Bobwhite quail could be secured by artificial insemination. After this proved to be feasible, the period between insemination and the onset of laying fertile eggs, the time during which fertile eggs were laid and levels of fertility and hatchability of eggs obtained from hens inseminated at weekly intervals over an extended period of time were determined.

Semen was collected from Bobwhite quail males by simultaneously applying pressure to both the left and right sides of the vent without prior stimulation. Upon collection, the semen was diluted with 0.9 per cent saline solution to prevent dehydration. Semen volume measurements were made with a tuberculin syringe to which was attached a piece of graduated, fine‐bore plastic tubing. Females were artificially inseminated by placing the diluted semen in the posterior opening of the everted oviduct.

Mean duration of fertility of the eggs from six trials, two of which utilised only a single insemination, one of which was the final insemination of a series of weekly inseminations and three of which utilised two inseminations within a period of 24 hr, was 9.3 days. Percentage fertility of eggs improved considerably after the first trial probably due to improvement of technique and gain in experience. Average fertility of eggs for the six trials was 64–9 per cent.

The average time interval between insemination and the appearance of the first fertile egg was 3.4 days. Peak fertility was reached by the fourth day following insemination.

Fertility of eggs averaged 62.2 ±3.5 per cent and their hatchability averaged 77.2 ±1.4 per cent over a period of 31 weekly inseminations. These values were comparable to 60.2 per cent fertility and 78.9 per cent hatchability which were obtained from natural matings.