Effects of reproduction intensity and age of turkey-toms on the quantity, quality and biological value of their semen

The research material for the study was two groups (16 each) of White Broad-breasted turkey-toms. Their semen was collected once a week (group A) and twice a week (group B). The experiment covered two reproduction periods separated by molting. The first reproduction period lasted 23 weeks; the second - 21 weeks. The following indices were determined:- ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and motility, percentages of live and morphologically changed spermatozoa, activity of acid phosphates (AcP) in whole semen and plasma, activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) released from spermatozoa, and the total;protein content of seminal plasma. Egg fertility and hatchability were controlled individually. Semen collection twice a week resulted in a decrease in the ejaculate volume (on average by 11.1%) and sperm concentration in the ejaculate (on average by 7.4'%), but an increase in the total semen volume (on average by 65.1%) and the number of insemination doses per turkey-tom (on average by 53.0%) over the entire reproduction period. The results of the study suggest that semen. collection twice a week should be recommended as it increases the number of females inseminated with semen from one male, i.e. better use may be made of the most valuable breeding toms. The decision to use the turkeys for the following reproduction period should be determined only in relation to breeding needs.