Effect of collection frequency on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pigeon (Columba livia) semen

1. The aim was to estimate the optimal frequency of semen collection from pigeons in relation to ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total spermatozoa in ejaculate and percentage of live morphologically normal cells. 2. The study was carried out on 455 ejaculates collected from two groups of pigeons, each of 10 males (group I: meat-type breed; group II: fancy pigeon). The birds were selected and kept individually in cages under a natural photoperiod. 3. A two-person technique was used for semen collection (lumbo-sacral and cloacal region massage). Semen was collected once, twice or three times per week. 4. Colour, consistency and volume of ejaculates were evaluated macroscopically immediately after collection. Sperm concentration and total number of cells in the ejaculate were estimated after dilution with Ringer's solution. A live–dead stain technique (nigrosin–eosin) was used to determine the percentage of live and normal spermatozoa. 5. Semen collected 3×/week was of high quality. The average volume of a single ejaculate was small (21 µl in group I and 19 µl in group II), but sperm concentration was high—1·58 × 109/ml and 1·96 × 109/ml, respectively. The mean number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was 30·48 × 106 in group I and 39·49 × 106 in group II. An increased percentage of live and normal spermatozoa in semen collected more frequently was also observed. 6. Collecting pigeon semen 3×/week provides spermatozoa in larger amounts and of better quality than less frequent collections (1×/week or 2×/week) and is recommended for obtaining more insemination doses.