A Comparison of the Ability of Certain Egg Yolk Diluents to Maintain Optimum Osmotic Conditions during the Storage of Bull Semen

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Abstract
Semen obtained from dairy bulls of several breeds was extended with diluting media used in the practice of artificial insemination and with media especially designed to alter 1 or more of the physical and chemical properties. These extended semen samples were stored at 4 to 7[degree] C and evaluated daily for motility and osmotic pressure. Motility was rated by a standard method. Osmotic pressure was detd. with a modification of the Hill-Baldes thermoelectric osmometer and expressed in terms of freezing point depression. Results of this investiga tion show that osmotic relationships are important in preparing diluting media. They also show that the diluting media which maintained osmotic pressure within the limits of -0.44 to -0.61[degree] C (freezing point depression) were superior in the maintenance of motility in extended bull semen during a 10-day storage period. Glucose in the diluting soln. aids in maintenance of osmotic pressure within narrow limits during storage.