The Relationship of in Vivo Sperm Storage Interval to Fertility and Embryonic Survival in the Chicken1

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Abstract
The effect of time after insemination on fertility and embryonic loss has been studied for each day’s egg production (60–150 eggs per day) by direct observation of chicken eggs after 18 days of incubation. The results showed a significant initial increase in fertility with sperm storage from day 1 (first day of fertile eggs) to day 3, followed by a few days of high fertility which was then followed by a linear decline through 18 days. Embryonic death was higher initially, reduced to a minimum when fertility was maximum, and increased linearly with increasing age of spermatozoa until fertility was reduced to a low level. The effect on fertility and embryonic loss was influenced significantly by both the male and female as well as time after insemination, and embryonic loss was negatively related to fertility level of the male. That embryos die at an earlier age due to fertilization by aged sperm was not conclusively confirmed in this study.

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