Semen Collection from a Stallion With a Permanent Perineal Urethrostomy: A Case Report

A 17 year-old American Quarter Horse stallion presented for semen collection and cryopreservation. He had a history of producing 57 registered foals over a period of 12 years. The stallion recently had a permanent perineal urethrostomy (PU) following obstruction of his penile urethra with a urinary calculus. Initially an emergency temporary perineal urethrostomy had been placed and the calculus was eventually removed. Unfortunately a stricture formed at the site where the calculus had been located and the temporary PU was converted into a permanent PU. The owner wanted to continue to use the horse as a breeding stallion. The horse had excellent libido and was able to gain a normal erection. Unfortunately, the stricture prevented semen from passing down the urethra and exiting the penis in a normal manner. The goal of this case report is to describe the technique and results of a nontraditional semen collection procedure. In order to collect semen, a small plastic bag was glued over the PU site. The stallion was subsequently teased to a mare in heat until he gained an erection and then allowed to mount a breeding phantom. The penis was directed into an artificial vagina (AV) and the stallion worked the AV vigorously. Within a few thrusts the horse ejaculated normal semen out of the PU site and into the plastic bag. The semen was analyzed for gel-free volume, sperm concentration and total and progressive motility using standard techniques. Three out of four mares became pregnant after insemination with freshly collected semen using this technique. Nine additional ejaculates were subsequently obtained (Table). Spermatozoa from two of the ejaculates were processed and cryopreserved in Botu-Crio extender, with an average post-thaw total motility of 37%. In summary, semen can be collected from a stallion through a perineal urethrostomy and used to inseminate mares or cryopreserved for later use.