Effects of semen dose on egg fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability in artificially inseminated geese (Anser cygnoides)

Abstract

The effects of semen dose on egg fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality in geese artificially inseminated with undiluted semen were investigated in a 4-weeks experiment. Twenty-four mature geese (4.0±0.45 kg average weight) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 2 replicates with 3 geese per replicate in a completely randomised design. Fresh semen collected from six ganders (5.2±0.69 kg average weight) was pooled and used to inseminate the geese at 0.05 mL (T1), 0.10 mL (T2), 0.15 mL (T3) and 0.20 mL (T4) respectively at 3-day intervals for 4 weeks. Incubation, candling and transfer of eggs to the hatcher were done using standard procedures and goslings hatched out on day 30. Percentage fertility, early embryo mortality (EEM), mid embryo mortality (MEM), late embryo mortality (LEM), hatch of fertile eggs (HFE) and hatch of set eggs (HSE) were obtained and analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p = 0.05 and means were separated using Duncan multiple range test. The progressive sperm motility, spermatozoa concentration and spermatozoa liveability of the pooled semen used for insemination were 55.67±9.81%, 203±1.57×106 sperm cells/mL and 77±5.29%, respectively. T4 geese had significantly higher fertility (91.07±10.72%) than T1 (56.25±18.48%), T2 (61.67±10.27%) and T3 (64.08±26.25%) groups. The EEM was significantly lower (38.89±11.7%) while MEM was significantly higher (38.89±19.2%) in T4 birds compared to the other groups. The LEM was however higher in T1 birds (37.50±35.3) than in the other groups. Hatch of set eggs was also higher in T3 and T4 geese compared to the other groups. Thus, it can be concluded that egg fertility in geese was semen dose-dependent and that a fresh semen dose of 0.2 mL was sufficient to improve fertility up to 91%.