Reproductive characteristics and semen quality in maiden Dutch Warmblood stallions

Abstract

The semen characteristics and testicular size of 398 3-year-old maiden Dutch Warmblood stallions were studied during February and March. Mean values (+/- SD) of age (1030 +/- 88 days) and testicular size (9.8 +/- 0.9 cm) of the maiden stallions were determined as well as the following semen characteristics (mean of two ejaculates, taken 1 h apart): volume (65 +/- 26 ml), sperm concentration (2.061 +/- 1.685 x 10(8) ml-1), total number of spermatozoa (1.129 +/- 0.71 x 10(10)), percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa (68 +/- 9%), percentage of live spermatozoa with normal morphology (66 +/- 15%), total number of progressively motile morphologically normal spermatozoa (5.307 +/- 3.833 x 10(9)) and pH (7.5 +/- 0.2). The morphology of the spermatozoa was studied and data on the most common abnormalities are presented. The first and second ejaculates show significant differences (P < 0.05) in volume, motility, number of spermatozoa, sperm morphology, total number of progressively motile morphologically normal spermatozoa and pH. The original breed has been split up into two different lines. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in semen characteristics between the types (riding and carriage horses). The semen quality and quantity of semi-siblings were compared and a significant sire effect (P < 0.05) was shown for the following characteristics: volume, motility (%) and sperm concentration. These results indicate that there are differences of heritability of those factors, which makes it possible to select on semen quality.

Physical properties of stallion semen in relation to some qualitative and quantitative characteristics

“…An elementary semen examination and a careful health assessment of a stallion have been, and still continue to be, the most important part of a stud stallion evaluation. A number of authors looked into an elementary semen examination (Kliment, 1989;Parlevliet et al, 1991;Angela et al, 2002;Sieme et al, 2003;Morrell et al, 2008). The sperm cell motility is a semen characteristic most frequently described in literature.…”

Sperm morphology in Estonian and Tori Breed Stallions

“…In the Netherlands it has been recommended that minimal values of semen quality of young (3 years old) stallions for registration in the studbook is a mean total number of progressive motile morphologically normal spermatozoa of 2 × 10 9 and a mean of 50% for motility and 50% of morphology of 2 ejaculates collected at one h interval [19]. The mean number of spermatozoa per ejaculate of the 3-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallions was 11.3 ± 7.1 × 10 9 spermatozoa.…”

Methods for Semen and Endocrinological Evaluation of The Stallion: A Review

“…Nishikawa used a more simple classification of abnormalities which includes seven basic categories of abnormalities: abnormal head, abnormal neck, abnormal connecting piece, abnormal tail, duplication of any parts, isolation of head and tail, deficiency of head and tail (Nishikawa 1959). Bretschneider classified the abnormalities into six groups: abnormal acrosome, abnormal sperm head, abnormal connecting piece, abnormal mid-piece, cytoplasmic droplet, abnormal tail and double spermatozoa (head or tail) (B retschneider 1948;Parlevliet et al 1994). Lagerlof used the categories of abnormal head, detached head, nuclear pouches, abnormal acrosome, proximal cytoplasmic droplet, distal cytoplasmic droplet, abnormal mid-piece and abnormal tail (Malmgren 1992).…”