Liquid storage of dromedary camel semen in different extenders

This study was conducted to assess the effects of commercial extenders and storage temperature on dromedary camel sperm quality during liquid preservation. In Experiment 1, ejaculates (n = five males; replicated seven times) were split and diluted with synthetic (OPTIXcell, EquiPlus, INRA96, Bioxcell or AndroMed; Experiment 1a) or egg-yolk based (Biladyl, Green buffer or Triladyl; Experiment 1b) extenders and stored for 48 h at 4 °C. In Experiment 2, split ejaculates (n = five males; replicated six times) were used to directly compare Green buffer, OPTIXcell and Triladyl extenders over 48 h of storage at 4 °C. Ejaculates collected in Experiment 3 (n = five males; replicated five times) were diluted with Green buffer or Triladyl before chilled storage for 48 h at 4 or 15 °C. Sperm kinematics, viability and acrosome integrity were assessed during liquid storage. In Experiment 1a, there was the greatest total sperm motility (TM) in the OPTIXcell group following 24 and 48 h of storage, while in Experiment 1b, there was the greatest TM after 48 h of storage with Triladyl and Green buffer. In Experiment 2, there were greater TM and viable acrosome intact spermatozoa in the Triladyl and Green buffer than with OPTIXcell group. In Experiment 3, there was a greater TM in the Triladyl than Green buffer group at 24 and 48 h of storage regardless of storage temperature (which had no effect on sperm quality). In conclusion, camel sperm have greater viability when preserved in liquid form for 48 h following dilution with Triladyl and storage at either 4 or 15 °C.