Replacement of salamon with shotor diluent and egg yolk with low density lipoprotein for chilled storage of ram semen

The present study investigated the possibility of replacing salamon with modified shotor diluent (MSD) and egg yolk (EY) with low density lipoprotein (LDL) for chilled storage of ram semen. Good quality semen (>80% progressive forward motility (PFM) of sperm) from 3 fertile rams was collected using an artificial vagina and pooled for each experiment. Low density lipoprotein was extracted from fresh EY. In experiment 1, semen was divided into 2 fractions and extended in MSD or salamon. In experiment 2, semen was assigned into 5 fractions and extended in MSD supplemented with 12 and 15% EY or 3, 5 and 8% LDL. In experiment 3, semen was divided into 2 fractions and extended in MSD supplemented with 12% EY or 5% LDL. Viability of sperm was assessed at times 0 (immediately after semen dilution), 2 or 4 (at 4°C) and up to 72 h after semen dilution. Data was analyzed using General Linear Model (GLM) procedure, including repeated measures. In experiment 1, the viability of sperm was similar in two diluents (P>0.05). In experiment 2, PFM of sperm was similar among groups at the time of dilution (P>0.05); but remained elevated in 5 and 8% LDL compared to other groups afterward (P