Artificial insemination of Cherry Valley ducks with Muscovy ducks.

[Objective] To explore artificial insemination technique for production of mule ducks. [Method] Female Cherry Valley ducks were artificially inseminated with semen collected from male Muscovy ducks by massage method and vagina-insemination method to investigate the effects of insemination dose, insemination interval, insemination time and diluents on fertilization rate. [Result] The average fertilization rate was only 39.58%, when the female Cherry Valley ducks naturally mated with the male Muscovy ducks. However, it was increased to 74.79% by artificial insemination. The fertilization rate was 75.24% after semen was diluted by PBS buffer, while it was 75.16% after semen was diluted by Lake's buffer; however, there was not significant difference between the fertilization rate of the diluted semen and that of fresh semen (74.10%). After semen was respectively diluted by PBS buffer and Lake's buffer and then stored at 5 ℃ for 24 h, the fertilization rate was low, respectively 23.76% and 34.33%. [Conclusion] Artificial insemination technology can reduce insemination dose and increase fertilization rate in production of mule ducks.