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A study was carried out to investigate the effect of substituting egg yolk in egg-yolk-citrate (EYC) extenders with extracts from Tomato and Pawpaw fruits as well as Coconut milk and Raffia palm sap on the motility of bull spermatozoa. Semen collected from Holstein Friesian bulls by the artificial vagina was extended with the proportions of egg yolk in egg-yolk-citrate extenders substituted at 25% (75% egg yolk: 25% Substituent), 50% (50% egg yolk:50% Substituent), 75% (25% egg yolk:75% Substituent) and 100% (no egg yolk in extender) and stored under refrigeration conditions (4-8oC). Results show that coconut milk (43.4%) and pawpaw juice (41.25%) led to the highest number of progressively motile sperms (P< 0.05) without evidence of difference between them (P > 0.05). They were followed by tomato Juice (40.35%), fresh raffia palm sap (40.40) and Trehalose (34.68%). Substitution of egg yolk at 75% had highest individual motility while total substitution (100%) had the lowest (P<0.0001). Meanwhile 50% and 75% substitution led to similar sperm progressive motility (P>0.05). Sperms retained 70% motility up to 15 days with coconut milk, 14 days with pawpaw juice, 14 days with fresh raffia sap, 13 days with tomato juice and 10 days with Trehalose. In the egg yolk treatment control, the drop below 70% was after the 4th day. Room temperature semen could be used only within 24H in all treatments. Fruits extenders performed better than egg yolk extenders, thus showing the beneficial effects of fruits in improving sperm motility. This is the first time such a result is reported. More studies need to be carried out on avoiding the sharp fall in motility 2 weeks after extension, on chemical concentrations of used fruits and in fertility of sperms with these extenders. In Cameroon where eggs are relatively more expensive, extenders may adequately be made with tropical fruits.

Bull Semen, Egg Yolk, Fruits Extenders, Sperm Motility

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