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Home / Equine Research Bank / Andrologia / Semen quality and freezability analysis during breeding and ...
Andrologia2020; 52(11); e13797; doi: 10.1111/and.13797

Semen quality and freezability analysis during breeding and non-breeding seasons in heavy draft stallions in southern Chile.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate seasonal changes in basic parameters of sperm quality and freezability behaviour of ejaculates from 10 fertile heavy draft stallions. A total of 140 ejaculates were collected, processed and evaluated during both the breeding (September-November) and non-breeding seasons (April-June). Fresh semen was evaluated for volume, concentration, total spermatozoa per ejaculate, plasma membrane integrity and total sperm motility. Cryopreserved samples were evaluated for plasma membrane integrity and sperm motility by the CASA system, and for the freezability index (FI), which was defined as the decreased ratio of viability after freezing-thawing. In fresh ejaculates, only viability showed significantly higher values in the breeding than in the non-breeding season (64.0% ± 15.0% vs. 58.6% ± 12.0%, respectively; p < .05). The sperm post-thawing analysis of viability and total motility parameters showed no significant changes linked to the season. However, the FI analysis showed that the ejaculates collected in the non-breeding season had higher cryoresistance characteristics than those collected in the breeding season. Results suggest that the presence of some cryoprotective factor/s in heavy draft horse ejaculates could be modulated by seasonality, with higher protective effects in the non-breeding season.
© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-01 PubMed ID: 32870570DOI: 10.1111/and.13797Google 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.

This research examined how the quality and freezing capacity of sperm from heavy draft stallions change between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The study found that although semen viability was higher during breeding season, semen collected during non-breeding season showed a higher resistance to freezing.

Objective of the Study

  • The main goal was to analyze the differences in basic parameters of sperm quality and freezability (ability to withstand freezing and thawing) between the breeding and non-breeding seasons in heavy draft stallions in Southern Chile.

Methodology

  • The research evaluated 140 ejaculates from 10 healthy adult stallions during the breeding (September to November) and non-breeding seasons (April to June).
  • The fresh semen was analyzed based on several parameters such as volume, concentration, total spermatozoa per ejaculate, plasma membrane integrity, and total sperm motility.
  • Cryopreserved (frozen and stored) samples were also analyzed for plasma membrane integrity and sperm motility using the CASA (computer-assisted semen analysis) system.
  • The freezability index (FI), a measure indicating the decrease in the viability ratio after freezing-thawing, was also calculated.

Results

  • It was found that viability (the number of live sperm) was significantly higher in the breeding season compared to the non-breeding season.
  • In comparison, post-thaw analysis of viability and total sperm motility parameters did not show significant changes related to the season.
  • Crucially, the FI analysis revealed that semen collected in the non-breeding season had better cryoresistivity (resistance to freezing and thawing) than those collected during the breeding season.

Conclusion

  • The findings suggest the presence of certain cryoprotective factors in the ejaculates of heavy draft horses. These factors seem to be season-dependent, with higher protective effects during the non-breeding season.
  • The study could prove crucial for breeding strategies, aiding in deciding when to collect and freeze semen for artificial insemination programs.

Cite This Article

APA
Ebel F, Vallejos A, Gajardo G, Ulloa O, Clavel E, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Ramírez-Reveco A. (2020). Semen quality and freezability analysis during breeding and non-breeding seasons in heavy draft stallions in southern Chile. Andrologia, 52(11), e13797. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.13797

Publication

Andrologia
ISSN: 1439-0272
NlmUniqueID: 0423506
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 11
Pages: e13797

Researcher Affiliations

Ebel, Francisca
  • Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
  • Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC), Córdoba, Argentina.
Vallejos, Andrés
  • Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Gajardo, Gonzalo
  • Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Ulloa, Omar
  • Haras Militar Pupunahue, DGFER-Ejército de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Clavel, Eduardo
  • Haras Militar Pupunahue, DGFER-Ejército de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Rodríguez-Gil, Joan Enric
  • Dept. Medicina i Cirugía Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ramírez-Reveco, Alfredo
  • Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Chile
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Seasons
  • Semen
  • Semen Analysis / veterinary
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa

Grant Funding

  • D08I1076 / Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Najjar A, Dhaouadi A, Ezzar S, Benaoun B, Khaldi S. Sexual arousal intensity modulates copulatory behavior and semen quality in Arabian stallions: Effects of age, origin, and collection method. Vet World 2025 Sep;18(9):2615-2625.
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  2. Boni R, Ruggiero R, De Luca F, Serritella ML, Di Palma T, Cecchini Gualandi S. Repeatability of Selected Parameters Related to Stallion Sperm Quality and Cryotolerance. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 26;15(19).
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  3. Ullah A, Chen W, Shi L, Wang M, Geng M, Na J, Akhtar MF, Khan MZ, Wang C. Challenges and Enhancing Strategies of Equine Semen Preservation: Nutritional and Genetic Perspectives. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 25;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090807pubmed: 41012733google scholar: lookup
  4. Dziekońska A, Szczepańska A, Wysokińska A. Effect of Season on the Characteristics of Warmblood Stallion Spermatozoa Stored in a Liquid State at 5 °C. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 3;15(7).
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