Vie CONG. INTERN. REPROD. ANIM. INSEM. ARTIF., PARIS, 1968, VOL. II

Artificial Insemination and Horse Breeding
Von H. Merkt

Aus dem Institut fiir Haustierbesamung und -andrologie im
Richard-Gotze-Haus der Tierdrztlichen Hochschule Hannover
Direktor: Prof. Dr. H. Merkt

The application of Artificial Insemination in horses has
alwavs been limited by the extremely short life-span of
the semen cell in vitro and by the relatively long and
irregular estrous period in the mare, which demands rec-
tal ovulation control.

Recent progress in the development of techniques for long
term sperm preservation by deep-freezing might help to
overcome at least some of these difficulties and may have
a promoting influence on horse breeding in general.

A réeplacement of the natural service by AI seems us to be
unlikely, for conditions in horse breeding are so entire-
ly different from conditions in cattle breeding. However,
there are several ways in which AT could be of great
assistance in horse breeding:

Firstly. There is a way now to establish semen banks with
germ plasma of particularly valuable animals, which may
have passed away already.

Secondly. The barrier of time and distance can be over-
come. This point seems to be of considerable weight at a

time where the number of mares and stallions is drasti-
cally reduced. Breeders often find it difficult to get a
suitable stallion and long distances may have to be
travelled. It is more economic to send semen insteed of
the horse itself; even intercontinental semen transport
is possible now.

Thirdly. There is a possibility now for therapeutic in-
semination by the veterinarian, in case there is a risk
of spreading infections (e.g. virus abortion) or creating
damage by natural service.

During the last decade several attempts were made in many
places of the world to solve this problem of long term
sperm preservation. The results achieved were not satis-
fying. WIERZBOWSKI reviewed this development at the occa-
sion of the EVT-Congress Oslo in 1967.

However, a change has taken place. Following the tech-

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