AQHA MAGAZINE May / June 2020 AQHA May-June YB 2020 WEB LR | Page 73

PG.71
stallionmanagement
If you are considering using chilled semen, there are a
number of different extenders and processing methods.
Having a test run of different methods will work out
which one is the best and that way a quality product
can be delivered to the mare owner. It is possible that
a stallion’s semen might not chill or freeze well. This
is important to know before offering that stallion for
those services.
How do you assess the quality of the semen?
Semen is assessed by visual characteristics, volume,
concentration and motility. Some of these can be
done by eye, the rest need microscope and associated
slides. It is also possible to use computer aided sperm
analysis (CASA). Although CASA is not essential, it does
allow some degree of objectivity and repeatability, all
important for producing good consistent results.
Do stallions need to stay at a reproduction
facility? If so, for how long?
Not necessarily. Some clients prefer to bring them in
for collections when they are required. Other clients
prefer to leave stallions at a collection facility. The first
option reduces costs associated with agistment but put
a burden on the owners to make the stallion available
on request.
The second option removes the need for the owner to
drop everything and run the stallion to the reproduction
facility but the work load needs to be considered so
that the agistment bill does not exceed income from
services.
When is the best time of the year to
collect and freeze stallion semen?
Stallions can be collected any time of the year to freeze
semen. Our preference is usually to do this at quieter
times of the year. Freezing semen is more time involved
and out of season there is generally more time. Also
some of the horses have frozen semen collected need
to be trained to have semen collected.
It is nicer to work with a naïve stallion when everything
is quiet and there is no time pressure that can occur
during the breeding season. If semen is being collected
and frozen for export then the facilities and animals
have to meet strict quarantine standards. The necessary
quarantine isolation of the stallion might be easier
to achieve without the heavy traffic flow that occurs
during the breeding season.
What factors reduce the performance of the
stallion and the quality of the semen?
The main factors that affect quality are age, pain and
the use of drugs that impair fertility. A very young
horse might not have good quality semen until
he reaches maturity. From 14 years of age semen
quality deteriorates. This is very individual and some
older stallions have very good semen quality, other
deteriorate at a relatively young age. The use of drugs
and supplements in performance is common. Some
of these will affect fertility, especially in a maturing
individual. If you are unsure of the effect of a drug on
a stallion’s potential fertility, consult your veterinarian.
I would like to breed from my mare.
How do I start the process and
where do I find a suitable stallion?
Stallion selection can be very difficult and depends on
the desired end product. Having a working knowledge
of popular or performing stallions in your discipline
and their bloodlines will help you make a decision.
There will always be someone nearby who will have an
opinion and separating the wheat from the chaff can
be difficult.
Once stallion/s selection has been achieved, budget is
a consideration and research into the entire costing of
breeding including service fee, agistment, veterinary
fees is important. These will vary depending on the
type of breeding that is done. Research into fertility
results with your selected stallion might be difficult to
obtain but some stallion owners are very open about
what they think their stallion fertility results are.
Having your mare examined by a veterinarian is
important. Ideally this should be done before or early
in the season so that the veterinarian can identify any
obvious problems and possibly correct them before too
much time is lost.
Is there any post repro season veterinary
care that I need to consider?
Most mares have uneventful pregnancies and births.
If there is a history of problems with your mare then
discussion with your veterinarian can help come
up with a management plan for pregnancy. Overall
keeping these mares in good to fat condition (not
obese) produces the best foal possible with very little
problems. At WestVETS, we have the expertise and
facilities required to successfully assist breeding your
horses.
MAY/JUNE ISSUE ~ YEARBOOK 2020