The objective of this work was to identify the best semen extender, the dilution rate and the storage time for rooster semen. A total of 60 roosters and 630 hens with 55 weeks of age were artificially inseminated, once a week, by six consecutive weeks, using .05 mL of semen/hen. The treatments were: T1=semen diluted with commercial extender-DC; T2 =semen diluted with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender-BPSE; T3=semen diluted with Lake solution-LAKE and T4=pure fresh semen (Control). The dilution levels (D) were D=0 (undiluted), D=2 (1 part of semen: 2 parts of extender) and D=4 (1 part of semen: 4 parts of extender). Storage time (H) was H=0, no rest, H=1, IA 1 hour after collection and H=24, IA 24 hours after collection (preserved in refrigerator between 2 and 5°C). The eggs were evaluated tby candling and at birth including the egg breaking for the no hatchable eggs. The fresh undiluted semen without storage produced the best averages for fertility (87.2) and birth (79.5%). The averages fertility and birth of the chicks for the semen diluted in the proportion of 1:2 with 24 hours of storage time were 84.8 and 76.3; 81.7 and 73.6 and 76.0 and 65.9, respectively for the extenders LAKE, DC and BPSE. When diluted semen was used, the dilution 1:2 produced better results than 1:4. The rest time for the semen, after dilution should be the minimum as possible. The Lake solution presented the best results among the extenders being equivalent to the use of fresh undiluted semen and inseminated just after the collection.
meat poultry; hen; rooster; artificial insemination; reproduction; semen
