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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Evaluation of a Chemically Defined, Long-Term Extender for L...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2025; 60(9); e70126; doi: 10.1111/rda.70126

Evaluation of a Chemically Defined, Long-Term Extender for Liquid Storage of Stallion Semen.

Abstract: Efficient use of stallion semen in liquid state is limited by its relatively short shelf-life. A chemically defined extender (Beyond) is now available for long-term liquid semen preservation. The objectives of the present study were to compare Beyond with milk extenders for the preservation of semen at two temperatures, and to evaluate fertility of semen cooled for 4-8 days before artificial insemination. Semen was processed using different extenders: milk, cholesterol (BotuSemen Special); milk-based (INRA 96); and Beyond. Sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, and chromatin structure were evaluated in semen stored at 17°C for 7 days or at 5°C for 14 days. Sperm motility decreased in the first few days of storage regardless of extender or storage temperature. Sperm motility continued to decline at relatively constant rates in semen extended in milk extenders, but the rate of decline was substantially reduced with Beyond. Sperm motility in semen extended with Beyond was greater than in semen extended with milk extenders after 4 days of storage at 17°C, or after 7 days of storage at 5°C. Extender did not affect sperm DNA damage during storage, but sperm with intact membrane and intact acrosome were lower with Beyond. Inseminations with semen stored with Beyond at 5°C for an average of 5.5 days resulted in embryos in 61% of cycles (11/18). In conclusion, Beyond extender resulted in greater sperm motility longevity when compared to milk extenders, especially when semen was stored at 5°C. Satisfactory fertility was obtained with semen cooled for 4-8 days before artificial insemination.
© 2025 The Author(s). Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2025-09-26 PubMed ID: 41002042PubMed Central: PMC12465434DOI: 10.1111/rda.70126Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Brito LFC, Linardi RL, Rosales LAS, Balamurugan NS, Hernández-Avilés C, Ramírez-Agámez L. (2025). Evaluation of a Chemically Defined, Long-Term Extender for Liquid Storage of Stallion Semen. Reprod Domest Anim, 60(9), e70126. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.70126

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 60
Issue: 9
Pages: e70126
PII: e70126

Researcher Affiliations

Brito, Leonardo F C
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Linardi, Renata L
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Rosales, Leslie A S
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Balamurugan, Nithiya Sri
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Hernández-Avilés, Camilo
  • Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Ramírez-Agámez, Luisa
  • Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Semen Preservation / methods
  • Male
  • Horses / physiology
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects
  • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Semen / physiology
  • Acrosome / physiology
  • Female
  • Milk
  • Cholesterol / pharmacology
  • Semen Analysis / veterinary
  • DNA Damage

Grant Funding

  • Georgia and Philip Hofmann Endowment
  • Legends Premier Stallion Season Auction

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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