SemenMs. Gottfried

How to collect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J538n44UPmA

Characteristics of Semen

Volume Concentration Motility

Volume of Semen

Measured in ml and can be expressed in two ways

1. Whole semen Composed of pre-wash, sperm rich and the

gelatinous plug. Average volume is 65 ml but can be above

200 ml 2. Gel semen

Whole semen with the gel portion removed by passing through a filter.

Amount of gel is variable but increases in the off season.

Concentration

Shown as number of spermatozoa (cells per ml.

Average concentration is 280 million cells per ml (280x 106/ml)

Concentration can be visually estimated by physical appearance (color) Good = grey/milky Bad= clear/watery

Hemacytometer Semen is diluted and counted

Motility

Expressed as percentage Good stallion = 70% or better Everything touching semen must be

at 73 degrees C (98.6 F) 1. Raw

Gel free 2. Diluted

Mixed with solution that prevents clumping.

Morphology

Abnormalities No one really knows how closely related

abnormalities are to fertility rates. High quality semen should not have more

than 15% primary and secondary abnormalities.

The heads of live semen will resist staining Three classifications of abnormalities

Primary Secondary Tertiary

Morphology

Primary (testes) A failure of spermatogenesis Abnormal head, double head, poor

development of tail, double tail. Secondary (epididymis)

a failure of maturation Separation of head from tail, cytoplasmic

droplets, fixed bend in tail Tertiary

Damage occurring during or after ejaculation Rough handling (cold shock) can also cause

separation of head and tails.

Semen Extenders

What is it?

Raw semen is short lived at room temp or refrigerated.

Extender allows it to stay viable for up to a few days.

Semen temp is lowered to lower the metabolic activity and extender added.

Physiological Functions

Acts as a source of nutrients Egg yolk (whites are bad!) Milk- heated to destroy some detrimental

enzymes Acts as a buffer

Must neutralize the products of normal spermatozoa metabolism

Common buffer is 2.9% sodium citrate solution

May contain antibacterial agents Penicillin and streptomycin are a

common mixture.

How many mares can be bred each time?

Every insemination needs: Volume of at least 10 ml Contain a minimum of 500 x 106 live

normal cells

1. Total number of cells: gel-free volume x concentration = total cells

2. Total number of live cells: Total cells x % motility= total live cells

How many mares

3. Total number of live normal cells:Total live cells x % normal cells = total live normal

cells

4. Total number of insemination:Total number of live normal cells/500 x 106 live

normal cells

Example

Total ejaculate: 70 ml Gel-free volume: 60 ml Gel volume: 10 ml Concentration: 200 x 10

cells/ml Motility: 80% Abnormalities: 10%

How many mares can you breed?