J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1976. 43:617-625.
© 1976 American Society of Animal Science
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Reproductive Physiology of the Stallion. IV. Seminal and Behavioral Characteristics1

B. W. Pickett, L. C. Faulkner, G. E. Seidel, Jr., W. E. Berndtson and J. L. Voss2

Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523

Abstract

First and second ejaculates were collected from five mature Quarter Horse stallions each Tuesday for 13 months. Means and statistical comparisons of the seminal characteristics for 260 first and second ejaculates were: gel-free semen (ml) 58.4, 49.6 (P<05); gel (ml) 7.1, 2.0 (P>.05); total seminal volume (ml) 65.5, 51.6 (P<.05); spermatozoa/ml (106) 281, 170 (P<01); spermatozoa/ejaculate (109) 14.7, 7.9 (P<01); motility (%) 73, 74 (P>.05); pH 7.47, 7.59 (P<.01) and osmolality of seminal plasma (mOs) 302, 300 (P>.05), respectively. Behavioral characteristics of stallions associated with collection of first and second ejaculates were: reaction time (sec) 211, 231 (P>.05) and mounts per ejaculate 1.8, 1.7 (P>.05). Significant (P<.01) stallion effects were found for all first and second ejaculate criteria except motility in first ejaculates and reaction time required for second ejaculates (P<.05). Seasonal effects (P<.01) for first ejaculates were observed for seminal volumes, spermatozoa/ejaculate, pH, reaction time and mounts per ejaculate. Seasonal effects on second ejaculate characteristics were significant (P<01) for gel volume (ml), spermatozoa/ml (106) and spermatozoa/ejaculate (109), pH and mounts per ejaculate. Although a number of significant correlations among the reproductive characteristics studied and plasma testosterone levels were obtained, the coefficients of correlation were too small topermit prediction of reproductive characteristics from individual testosterone values. Correlations based on the pooled monthly means for each stallion or calculated on a within-stallion basis were similar in magnitude to simple correlations.

The relationship among these characteristics is discussed in relation to potential fertility evaluation of stallions.

Footnotes

1 Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics. This investigation was supported in part by grants-in-aid from American Breeders Service, The Grayson Foundation and the National Association of Animal Breeders. Portions of these data were presented at the "First International Symposium Upon Equine Reproduction," Cambridge, England, 1974, and appeared in J. Reprod. Fertil. (Suppl.) 23:25. 1975.

2 Department of Clinical Sciences.






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Copyright © 1976 by the American Society of Animal Science.