Effect of storage temperature, nitrogen gassing and sperm concentration on the in vitro semen quality and in vivo fertility of liquid bull semen stored in INRA96

• Published in: Theriogenology 2018-03, Vol.108, p.223-228
• Main Authors: Murphy, E.M., Eivers, B., O'Meara, C.M., Lonergan, P., Fair, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial insemination; Bovine; Calving rate; Liquid semen; Sperm concentration
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.12.012

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of storage temperature, nitrogen (N2) gassing and sperm concentration on in vitro characteristics and calving rate (CR) following artificial insemination (AI) of liquid bull semen stored in INRA96. In Experiment 1 the effect of liquid bull semen diluted in either N2 bubbled or non-bubbled INRA96 at a concentration of 5 × 106 sperm per 0.25 mL insemination dose and stored at 5 or 15 °C was assessed subjectively for total and progressive motility on Days 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 post collection. In Experiment 2a, the effect of stored liquid semen at three sperm concentrations (3, 4 or 5 × 106 sperm per 0.25 mL insemination dose) on total and progressive motility was assessed subjectively on Days 0, 1 and 2 post collection. In Experiment 2b, the field fertility of liquid semen stored at ambient temperature at a concentration of 3, 4 or 5 × 106 sperm per 0.25 mL dose and inseminated on Days 1 or 2 post collection was assessed in comparison to frozen-thawed semen (total of n = 5742). In Experiment 1, total and progressive motility decreased with increased duration of storage (P