Semen collection can be carried out using a number of different methods, but one of the most common is the artificial stimulation method which initially involves the use of a "teaser" mare to stimulate the stallion and prepare him to ejaculate. Once the stallion is sufficiently aroused, we proceed to collect semen using specialised equipment, such as a latex sleeve placed over the stallion's penis.
The semen is then assessed for quality, including sperm count, motility and morphology. The semen can then be frozen for later use or used immediately for insemination of mares (fresh semen), or within hours (chilled semen). Depending on the intended use of the semen, it is prepared to maintain its optimal fertility.
If the seed is to be stored in the refrigerator, it should be kept at a temperature between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius. Semen should be prepared in the laboratory by adding special diluents to maintain sperm quality during storage. The diluents may contain nutrients to support sperm survival, antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial infection, and antioxidants to prevent cell damage.
Collecting semen from stallions can help to avoid some of the risks associated with natural breeding. Firstly, it can help prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases between stallions and mares. Semen collection also helps to control the quality of the semen, so that breeding with stallions that have low semen quality or fertility problems can be avoided.
In addition, semen collection can help prevent injuries or accidents that may occur during natural breeding between a stallion and a mare, such as falls or aggressive behaviour by the stallion or mare.
Finally, semen collection can also allow stallion owners to breed their animals with mares in other regions or even other countries by simply sending the frozen semen to the desired location.
However, it is important to note that the collection of semen from stallions can involve risks such as trauma, even if care is taken to prevent this. The proper upbringing of the stallion, its respect for humans and other horses, and its docility at the time of collection greatly influence the safety of all at the time of semen collection. In some cases, too high or too low a libido may force us to change the position of the teaser mare, which could sometimes make the collection more risky due to the proximity and excitement of the horses. The owner of the stallion must measure all these risks, which we take care to reduce by the most adapted handling according to the circumstances. We are at your disposal and will answer all your questions before collecting your stallion.
To guarantee the best possible quality of semen, it is important that the stallion is in optimal conditions of health, nutrition and exercise, and that stress factors are avoided.
Educating a young stallion to avoid risks in semen collection is an important process that must be done with care and patience. Here are some key steps in educating your young stallion:
- Socialisation and handling: it is important that the young stallion is socialised and handled from an early age to become accustomed to human presence and touch. This will facilitate later semen collection.
- Physical preparation: the young stallion should be trained to stand still for short periods of time, as semen collection requires the stallion to remain still during the procedure.
- Training for mounting on a dummy: this important step is to teach the stallion to behave appropriately during mounting and to get used to physical contact.
- Artificial stimulation training: to prevent the stallion from becoming overly excited or anxious during semen collection, it is important to train the stallion for artificial stimulation by using a "teaser" mare to stimulate the stallion and get him used to the process.
- Training for semen collection: Once the young stallion is used to artificial stimulation, it is time to train him for semen collection. This can be done by using a latex sleeve to collect the semen, or by using simulation equipment to accustom the stallion to the procedure.
We offer services for the last 3 stages, and it is important to note that the education of a young stallion for semen collection starts at home, at a young age, to reduce the risks later on.
Training sessions on the dummy can be arranged by appointment. In some cases, we will advise you to station your stallion for a few days at the centre, in order to set up a more progressive and patient learning process.
Finally, before a stallion's semen can be marketed, it is necessary for him to undergo health tests to ensure that he is free from semen-borne diseases. A 30-day period of abstinence must be observed after a possible natural mating, before the health tests can be performed.
For use on the national territory, in Belgium, the stallion must pass the test for contagious equine metritis (CEM) and equine infectious anaemia (EIA). An additional test against equine viral arteritis (EVA), and a second test against EMC, more than 7 days after the first, are required for marketing in other member states in Europe.
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