Technique's for Electrical Semen Collection from Birds

Abstract

The development of artificial reproduction programs in birds is imperative in order to reduce the number of avian species that will soon be extinct. Although captive breeding programs have been successful for some avian species, and a few notable successes in artificial breeding have been accomplished, there exists a great need for techniques that would allow artificial manipulation of the avian reproductive An important first step in the implementation of artificial reproduction programs is the development of an eff~ctive semen collection technique. Having reviewed the reproductive anatomy and physiology of the bird and the various techniques fer avian semsn collection that have been attemptedp the author is convinced that the only semen collection technique that will ultimately prove to be practical for use in most species of birds is electroeJaculation. The problems associated with use of electroeJaculation in the pigeon have been reduced by the use of a cloacal retractorp and an effective technique for collecting semen from pigeons is herein described.