Supplementation of tris-based extender with plasma egg yolk of six avian species and camel skim milk for chilled preservation of dromedary camel semen

- Pigeon plasma egg yolk are preferable to domestic chicken, partridge and guinea fowl as cooling protectant in dromedary camel semen.
- Tris-based extender supplemented with 20% pigeon plasma egg yolk and 20% camel skim milk is suitable to preserve dromedary camel semen at chilled condition.

The present study was conducted to investigate a suitable source (Expt. 1) and concentration (Expt. 2) of plasma egg yolk (PEY) and concentration of camel skim milk (CSM; Expt. 3) to supplement tris based extender for chilled storage of dromedary camel semen. In Expt. 1, PEY (20%) of six avian species (domestic chicken, domestic duck, Japanese quail, partridge, pigeon and guinea fowl) was added to semen extender. In Expt. 2, different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) of selected PEY from Expt.1 were added to semen extender. In both Expt. 1 and 2, CSM remained constant (20%). In Expt. 3, semen extender was supplemented with different concentrations of CSM (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80%) while the concentration of PEY remained constant. The sperm viability parameters were assessed at 6, 12 and 24 h following chilled storage. In Expt. 1, progressive forward motility (PFM) of diluted semen supplemented with pigeon PEY was similar to domestic duck and Japanese quail PEYs (P > 0.05) and superior to other PEYs (P < 0.05). In Expt. 2, PFM following the addition of 20% pigeon PEY was similar to 10 and 30% (P > 0.05) and greater than 0 and 40% (P < 0.05). In Expt. 3, total motility, PFM and live percentage of sperm were better in 20% compared to 40, 60 and 80% CSM (P < 0.05). In the last experiment, PFM in 20% was better than 0% CSM (P < 0.05). In conclusion, pigeon PEY at the concentration of 20% and CSM at the concentration of 20% could provide beneficial effect on some of the sperm viability parameters during chilled storage of dromedary camel semen.