Effects of floor and cage housing of male turkeys on semen production and fertility of fresh and stored semen.
Broiler-type male turkeys housed in individual cages were compared with those housed in litter floor pens with respect to fertility, semen volume, concentration of spermatozoa, body weight, foot abnormality, and mortality. The effect of short-term storage of semen on fertility was also examined. There was no significant difference (P greater than .05) between the fertilities of the males in cages and those on floor when semen was diluted and inseminated fresh (92 vs. 88%) or diluted and stored for 6 hr at 15 (79 vs. 84%) or 3 C (77 vs. 85%). The males in cages produced as much semen as those on floor and with similar concentrations of spermatozoa. Those in cages had significantly (P less than 01) reduced body weight, higher incidence of foot abnormality, and higher percent mortality. Storage of semen for 6 hr reduced fertility.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005298:Fertility; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D014422:Turkeys / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*