Response to Different Semen Extenders of Individual Ram Semen

This study was conducted to evaluate individual differences in freezing ram sperm and to determine the extenders and individual sperm interaction. The ejaculates were collected from 5 Karayaka rams by artificial vagina twice a week during the breeding season. The each ejaculate was split into 4 equal aliquots and diluted with skimmed milk, Tris, Andromed and Bioxcell extenders. Straws contained semen was equilibrated at +4 ° C for 2 h and than frozen in vapor of (15 min at -120 ° C) liquid nitrogen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Frozen semen was thawed in a water bath at 37 ° C for 30 seconds. In thawed semen, percentages of spermatozoa motility, viability, and abnormal spermatozoa, for each ejaculate were determined. The post-thaw sperm motility was significantly higher in skimmed milk extender post-thaw, while lowest motility rate was obtained from Bioxcell diluent. Consequently, it was found that skimmed milk extender was better than the other extenders and decreased individual differences between rams.