AAEP Annual Convention Salt Lake City 2014
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Relationship Between Sperm Quality and the Embryo Recovery Rate of Cooled-Shipped Stallion Sperm

Author(s):

C.C. Love, J.K. Noble, S.A...

In: AAEP Annual Convention - Salt Lake City, 2014 by American Association of Equine Practitioners
Updated:
DEC 10, 2014
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This study describes sperm quality following cooled-storage and the relationship to embryo recovery rate. Cutoff points are reported for sperm quality features that identify differences between cooled-shipped samples of high and average fertility that allows the practitioner to evaluate the stallion’s potential as a cooled-shipped semen candidate. Authors’ addresses: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475 (Love); Noble Equine Veterinary Service, Purcell, OK 73080-4712 (Noble); 2314 Stone Court, Katy, TX 77493 (Standridge); and Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475 (Bearden, Cavinder); email: clove@cvm.tamu.edu.

1. Introduction

The clinician is limited by the lack of information regarding the level of sperm quality that should be expected for adequate fertility in samples received for breeding. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of sperm quality after cooled-storage to fertility based on embryo recovery rate.

2. Materials and Methods

Ejaculates (n = 488) from Quarter Horse and Paint stallions (n = 135) were collected and shipped to an embryo transfer facility for artificial insemination. Samples were evaluated for total sperm motility, morphology, viability, semen concentration and volume, and DNA quality using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay. Fertility was measured using embryo recovery rate.

3. Results

A total of 204 mares were bred 492 estrus cycles. Cutoff values that separate average and high fertility groups were identified for total sperm motility (≥ 65%), progressive sperm motility (≥ 45%), extended sperm concentration (≥ 31.8 million sperm/mL), total sperm number in the inseminate (≥ 1.14 billion sperm), viable sperm (≥ 71%), sperm with abnormal DNA (≤ 26.8%), and morphologically normal sperm (≥ 47%).

4. Discussion

In this study, guideline values for cooled-stored stallion sperm were identified that describe differences in fertility. These guidelines will allow the clinician to more critically interpret the results of sperm quality analysis from cooled-shipped semen.

Acknowledgments

Conflict of Interest

The Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication

Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475 (Love); Noble Equine Veterinary Service, Purcell, OK 73080-4712 (Noble); 2314 Stone Court, Katy, TX 77493 (Standridge); and Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475 (Bearden, Cavinder)

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