VIABILITY AND FERTILITY OF UNWASHED MURCIANO-GRANADINA GOAT SPERMATOZOA DILUTED IN TRIS-EGG YOLK EXTENDER AND STORED AT 5-DEGREES-C

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the viability and fertility of unwashed Murciano-Granadina goat spermatozoa after dilution in Tri s-egg yolk extender and storage at 5 degrees C. Semen was collected wi th an artificial vagina from 3 mature male goats during the breeding ( July-February) and non-breeding (March-June) season. In the first expe riment, the viability (forward progressive motility, live sperm and ac rosome integrity) and fertility of washed and unwashed spermatozoa coo led and stored at 5 degrees C in a medium with egg yolk were evaluated . The concentration of egg yolk in diluted semen was 2 and 12% for unw ashed and washed spermatozoa, respectively. The viability of spermatoz oa declined with preservation time (P< 0.01) and no differences (P> 0. 01) were found between unwashed and washed spermatozoa for either sper matozoa quality parameters evaluated. No difference (P> 0.05) in ferti lity was obtained when does were inseminated with unwashed (25/34, 73. 5% does pregnant) or washed spermatozoa (26/37, 70.3% does pregnant). In the second experiment, unwashed spermatozoa collected during the br eeding and non-breeding season diluted in Tris-egg yolk extender and s tored at 5 degrees C were used for artificial insemination. The fertil ity rates were indistinguishable between semen collected and processed in the breeding (84/115, 75% does pregnant) and non-breeding season ( 78/104, 73% does pregnant). It is concluded that the viability and sub sequent fertility of unwashed Murciano-Granadina goat spermatozoa stor ed at 5 degrees C after dilution in Tris-egg yolk extender are high th roughout the year. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.