Assessment of Quality Characteristics of Raw Semen in Pearl Guinea Fowls

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the semen quality parameters of individual and pooled guinea fowl semen at Poultry Research Station, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai- 51. Twenty-two male pearl guinea fowls, aged 12 months, chosen randomly were used for the study. The birds were trained for semen collection by abdominal massage technique and the semen samples were collected Weekly twice. Samples were evaluated for volume, color, consistency, pH, motility, concentration, viability, and morphology. Six birds were excluded from pooled semen analysis due to either the absence of semen production or low semen quality. The mean semen pH, spermatozoa motility (%), spermatozoa concentration (106/ml), per cent live spermatozoa and per cent abnormal spermatozoa in pooled raw semen of selected males were 7.19±0.01, 81.47±1.52, 1408.75±83.21, 85.82±0.88 and 13.75±0.65 respectively. The semen quality parameters were within the normal range for optimum fertility by artificial insemination. This study insights into the screening process for selecting males for inclusion in breeding programs and factors affecting semen quality in this species.