TULLIS Matson of Stallion AI Services gave an insightful presentation of semen collection and some of the new technologies being used. He explained how taking a number of small steps over the course of the semen collection can make a significant difference to the overall quality of the semen.

One point repeated over the course of the conference was that both mares and stallions must be treated as individuals.

For Matson this came into play in relation to how the semen in collected, each stallion has a preference and making sure they are as comfortable as possible can help the end product.

Collection techniques:

  • Dummy mare
  • Ground collections
  • Offside collections
  • Hot Cloth
  • Condom
  • Collection in stocks
  • Chemical ejaculation

    • After finding the best means of collecting the semen another step which can help to improve the quality of the semen is centrifugation. This is a technique used for the separation of particles, and in the context of breeding and semen collection, Matson uses it for the removal of seminal plasma. This helps to increase sperm longevity and increase quality.

    Matson also used density gradient centrifugation for the removal of morphologically abnormal sperm which provides a higher proportion of viable cells. However, he did not the importance of the protocol being correctly followed in order to for the process to be success.

    Another point Matson made about treating each stallion as an individual was in relation to the use of extenders. He said: “There are lots of different types of extenders and don’t be afraid to change if necessary.

    Sexing semen is something which is being more common within the breeding industry. Matson said that he finds sexing semen to be 96% accurate, but in order to achieve this correct mare management is very important.

    Epididymal Semen Harvesting

    Although epididymal semen harvesting is an area being accessed by more breeders, generally in the past this procedure was used after trauma. However, Matson explained that he is now seeing an influx of breeders using epididymal semen harvesting after elective castrations. Matson’s work in this area is not confined to horses he has completed the procedure on different animals including bulls and some zoo animals.

    Epididymal semen harvesting can offer a lifeline but there are factors to watch out for, including:

  • Time delay
  • Freezing medium
  • Condition of animal
  • Fertility results