ENUMERATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA IN CHICKEN SEMEN

Three experiments were conducted to determine the bacteriological qual ity of chicken semen. Semen was collected from donor males, diluted, a nd surface inoculated onto seven different bacteriological media, from which randomly selected colonies were identified. Bacterial counts in semen averaged 5.14 log(10) cfu/mL. Tryptic soy agar (TSA) was the be st medium for the isolation of Gram-positive bacteria, whereas TSA + . 3% bile salts (TSABS) and violet red bile agar + 1% glucose (VRBAG) we re the best media for the isolation of Gram-negative and enteric bacte ria. The genera of bacteria that were isolated depended on the medium that was used for isolation. The most frequently isolated genera inclu ded Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Enterococcus, and Salmon ella. Most of the bacteria that were isolated were endemic to poultry and were common environmental bacteria. This indicates that the enviro nment and feed are important sources of bacterial contamination in bro ilers.