Vle CONG. INTERN. REPROD. ANIM. INSEM. ARTIF., PARIS, 1968, VOL. Il

FREEZING EQUINE SEMEN FOR USE IN ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
CHARLES E. KNOOP

CENTRAL OHIO BREEDING ASSOCIATION
COLUMBUS, OHIO - U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION:

Preliminary work with stallion semen indicated a
similarity with semen from boars (swine) in low con-
centration of spermatozoa, high amount of seminal
plasma, and high pH. Data collected at the Ohio Agri-
cultural Experimental Station (1) suggested that a
diluent for boar semen may be used for processing
stallion semen.

One horse breeding establishment supplied semen

from six stallions. Information gained upon exami-
nation of the collected semen revealed the importance
in the use of quality control measures. Semen from

three stallions contained either no sperm cells or
cells which were feeble, and could not be used. Three
stallions produced semen of normal cell concentration
with vigorous activity. Satisfactory recovery through
processing and freezing was obtained from two of these
stallions with 60 percent recovery of motile sperm.
Semen from the third stallion failed to survive.

Observations were made on semen collected from
stallions, including: method of collection, contami-
nation, semen evaluation, morphology, pH, concentra-
tion of spermatozoa, volume of semen and sensitivity
of the sperm to light and trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A. COLLECTION

An artificial vagina was made of heavy rubber
material containing a double walled water jacket 14 cm.
by 56 cm. with a long semen collecting cone passing
through the water jacket and with a large necked bottle
attached as semen container. To remove excessive dirt
and semen gel, a gauze filter was installed in the neck
of the bottle.

(1) Hess, E. A., Ludwig, T.M., and Teague, H.S.,
Artificial Insemination in Swine. (Ohio
Agricultural Experimental Station Res. Bul.
No. 90, 1960)

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