Fertility results after exocervical insemination using goat semen cryopreserved with extenders based on egg yolk, skim milk, or soybean lecithin

Abstract To evaluate the effects of four extenders on the post‐thaw quality and fertility of goat semen, six Yunshang Black bucks' semen was collected, pooled, diluted with Andromed® (Andr®), Optidyl® (Opt®), P3644 Sigma l ‐phosphatidylcholine ( l ‐α SL), and skim milk‐based (Milk) extenders, and then cryopreserved. The sperm motilities, abnormalities, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated after thawing. After exocervical insemination with the thawed semen, the pregnancy, lambing, and twinning rates were recorded and compared. The results showed that sperm motilities, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and viable spermatozoa were significantly higher in the Andr® and Opt® groups than those in the l ‐α SL and Milk groups ( p < .05). Furthermore, there was no difference between Andr® and Opt® ( p > .05). The sperm abnormality was lower in semen frozen with the Andr® or Opt® extenders, as compared to the l ‐α SL or Milk extender ( p < .05). Regarding, the viable cells with low ROS production, the optimal results were obtained in the semen frozen with Andr® and Opt® extenders. Following exocervical insemination, the pregnancy and lambing rates in the Milk group were significantly lower than those in the other groups ( p < .05). No difference was found in the pregnancy and lambing rates between Andr®, Opt®, and l ‐α SL ( p > .05). Furthermore, the twinning rates were similar between these four groups ( p > .05). In conclusion, egg yolk or skim milk can be substituted by soybean lecithin during cryopreservation of goat semen.