THE FREQUENCY OF SEMEN COLLECTION ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS AND FERTILITY IN INTERGENERIC CROSS BETWEEN MUSCOVY DRAKES AND COMMON DUCKS

Abstract

Generally very little information is available on artificial insemination in
Muscovy ducks. Semen dosages, site of insemination and interval between
inseminations have not been studied sufliciently. Similarly the efifect of frequency of
semen collection on the yield of semen and fertility over certain period of time has
not been investigated. Frequency of semen collection from once to three times per
week did not affect the average semen volume, concentration, and motility.
However, increasing the frequency of semen collection from once to three times per
week affected total volume of semen per period per 5 birds. This means that more
ducks can be inseminated. It has been demonstrated that by using artificial vagina
(AV) technique for semen collection, three times collection of semen over a 16-
week period is neither harmful to the drake nor to the quality and quantity of the
output. Fertility rate afler insemination with sperm collected once a week
significantly higher than that of twice and three times per week collections. In
conclusion, good quality of semen can be obtained by collecting sperm up to three
times per week and good fertility can be obtained by inseminating ducks every four
days.