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Animal reproduction science2008; 107(3-4); 268-275; doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.04.015

Recent advances in cooled-semen technology.

Abstract: The majority of horse registries approve the use of artificial insemination, and horse breeding has widely taken benefit from the use of cooled-stored semen. New insights into cooled-semen technology open possibilities to reduce problems such as impaired semen quality after cooled-storage in individual stallions. The stallion itself has major impacts on quality and fertility of cooled-stored semen. Dietary supplementation of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids improves semen quality in a variety of species, but only few studies on this topic exist in the horse. Proper semen collection and handling is the main key to the maintenance of semen quality during cooled-storage. Semen collection should be achieved by minimal sexual stimulation with a single mount; this results in high sperm concentration, low content of seminal plasma and minimal contamination with bacteria. Milk-based semen extenders are most popular for semen processing and storage. The development of more defined extenders containing only the beneficial milk ingredients has made extender quality more constant and reliable. Semen is often centrifuged to decrease the seminal plasma content. Centrifugation results in a recovery rate of only 75% of spermatozoa in the semen pellet. Recovery rates after centrifugation may be improved with use of a "cushion technique" allowing higher centrifugation force and duration. However, this is not routinely used in cooled-semen technology. After slow-cooling, semen-storage and shipping is best performed at 5 degrees C, maintaining semen motility, membrane integrity and DNA integrity for up to 40 h after collection. Shipping containers created from Styrofoam boxes provide maintenance of semen quality at low cost.
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Publication Date: 2008-04-29 PubMed ID: 18524507DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.04.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article presents recent advances in cooled-semen technology for horse breeding, discusses the impact of the stallion’s diet on semen quality, appropriate semen collection methods, processing techniques for maintaining semen quality during cooled-storage, and effective low-cost shipping methods using Styrofoam boxes.

Stallion Impact on Semen Quality

  • The study highlights that the stallion has significant influence on the quality and fertility of the cooled-stored semen. This may likely be related to genetic and health factors of the individual stallion.

Dietary Supplements for Improving Semen Quality

  • The researchers note that supplementation of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet of the stallion can enhance semen quality.
  • However, there is a paucity of studies investigating this area specifically for horses, hence more research is needed.

Semen Collection & Handling Methods

  • Proper semen collection and handling are crucial to preserving semen quality during cooled-storage.
  • The study suggests minimal sexual stimulation for semen collection, resulting in a high sperm concentration, low content of seminal plasma, and minimal contamination with bacteria.

Semen Processing and Storage

  • Milk-based semen extenders are most commonly used for semen processing and storage. The use of more defined extenders has improved the stability and reliability of extender quality.
  • Semen is often centrifuged to reduce the seminal plasma content, however, this process recovers only about 75% of spermatozoa in the semen pellet.
  • Improvements in the recovery rates can be achieved by using a “cushion technique”, which allows higher centrifugation force and duration, but it is not routinely used in cooled-semen technology.

Semen Storage and Shipping

  • Following slow-cooling, the semen should be stored and shipped at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius for maintaining motility, membrane integrity, and DNA integrity for up to 40 hours post-collection.
  • Styrofoam boxes are recommended as an effective and affordable means of shipping, given their insulation properties which can help maintain semen quality.

Cite This Article

APA
Aurich C. (2008). Recent advances in cooled-semen technology. Anim Reprod Sci, 107(3-4), 268-275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.04.015

Publication

Animal reproduction science
ISSN: 0378-4320
NlmUniqueID: 7807205
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 107
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 268-275

Researcher Affiliations

Aurich, Christine
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Sciences, Neustadt (Dosse), Germany. christine.aurich@vu-wien.ac.at

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Cold Temperature
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Quality Control
  • Semen / physiology
  • Semen Preservation / methods
  • Semen Preservation / trends
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Sperm Retrieval / trends
  • Sperm Retrieval / veterinary

References

This article includes 45 references

Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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