Effects of Artificial Insemination Methods on Reproductive Performance of Ho Breed of Chicken

Abstract

    This study was conducted to assess reproductive performance of Ho breed of chicken by artificial insemination. Semen qualities of Ho chicken were surveyed on 30 mature chickens (30 weeks of age and 4.0 - 5.5 kg in weight) and 45 mature hens (30 weeks old, weighing 3.0 - 3.5 kg) were chosen. All experimental Ho chickens were characterized by appearance-characteristic features. The cocks of Ho breed were trained to exploit semen by hand massage and after each extraction the semen were assessed for quality (color, pH, volume - V; motility - A; sperm concentration - C; VAC; and the percentage of abnormality sperm). Hens were artificially inseminated by direct delivery of semen into the Hen’s vagina/oviduct. The study results showed that the cocks gained ejaculatory reflex right after the first time, 3 days and 7 days of training and the cocks without ejaculatory reflex were 73.33%, 6.67%, 3.33% and 16.67%, respectively. Semen color was mostly milky white. Total straight moving sperms and the proportion of abnormal sperms in an ejaculation was 1.59 billion and 12.06%, respectively. Highest percentages of fertilized eggs (92.51%) with class I chicks were achieved with semen collection frequency of three days intervaland insemination with 0.05ml semen.