EVALUATION OF A DILUTOR ELABORATED WITH Opuntia sp. JUICE IN THE CRYOPRESERVATION OF BOVINE SEMEN

Abstract

dilutor was elaborated with prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) juice to dilute and cryopreserve bovine semen, and to evaluate it, was compared with two commercial dilutors: Triladyl® and BoviPRO®. Three Holstein adult bulls were used, from which semen was collected with an artificial vagina. The ejaculates were mixed to form a “pool”, where bulk mobility, sperm concentration, morphology and percentage of live spermatozoa were evaluated from fresh semen. Later, it was divided into three fractions, which were diluted with the different extensors for their freezing in nitrogen vapors. The variables evaluated were percentage of live spermatozoa and integrity of the membrane, which were analyzed through the GLM procedure. A difference was found (p<0.05) in the variable of live spermatozoa for the treatment with prickly pear juice (19.6±1.18%), compared to the treatments with Triladyl® (46.4±1.08%) and BoviPRO® (46.6±1.18%). For the variable membrane integrity, a difference was obtained from the prickly pear juice (17.26±0.98%) with regards to BoviPRO® (46.68±1.15%) and Triladyl® (38.28±1.34%). It is concluded that the prickly pear juice extensor is a good option for the cryopreservation of bovine semen; however, it is necessary to continue studying its qualities to improve the characteristics of the cryopreserved semen