Considerations on goat semen cryopreservation

Abstract

The goat semen cryopreservation is an important reproductive biotechnique that promotes the conservation of male germplasm indefinitely. This technique, associated to the artificial insemination, represents an efficient mechanism for promotion and diffusion of the high quality genetic material. Semen cryopreservation provides an economy for the producer when reducing the costs with feeding and transport of the stud males, as well as the risks of transmission of sexually transmissible diseases. The goat semen presents an important characteristic that must be considered for its cryopreservation since that the interaction between seminal plasma and egg yolk, a substance largely used in semen extenders, is deleterious for the spermatozoa. This revision makes a general rising concerning the main aspects linked to the cryopreservation of goat semen and updates scientific information on this subject. The usual freezing and thawing methods are discussed, as well as the main extenders and cryoprotectants.