An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of several doses of vitamin E (0, 4, 8 and 12 ?g/mL of semen diluent) on the prolongation of the storage time of Fars native chicken sperm at laboratory (19-24?C) and refrigerator (4-5?C) temperatures conditions. Semen characteristics (percentage of live sperm, sperm motility and pH) were determined at 6 and 24 h after storage. Vitamin E did not significantly affect the percentage of live sperm, sperm motility, pH of diluted semen, and percent hatchability of the fertile eggs (P>0.05). Addition of vitamin E to diluents significantly (P<0.05) increased the percentage of fertile eggs obtained from diluted semen stored at 4-5?C and 19-24?C for 24 h as compared with the control group (with no addition of vitamin E). The highest percentage of fertile eggs was obtained with the dose of 8 ?g/mL, for semen stored at 4-5?C for 24 h. It is concluded that for storing semen at 4-5?C for 6 h, addition of 8 ?g vitamin E/mL Sexton diluent, would result in higher percentage of fertile eggs. Addition of 4 or 8 ?g vitamin E/mL, would increase egg fertility when semen stored at 4-5?C or 19-24?C for 24 h. Addition of 8 ?g vitamin E/mL, increased the overall hatchability when semen was stored at 4-5?C and 19-24?C for 24 h.
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