Effect of Male Age on Semen Parameters in a Purebred Dog Breeding Program with Established Fertility Parameters

Sperm fertility parameters in male dogs have largely been derived from research performed in other species. Age-related changes are expected to occur as dogs mature, affecting the overall fertility of the animal. Our objectives with this study were to 1) establish baseline parameters of fresh semen for a healthy population of actively breeding stud dogs with known fertility, and 2) compare semen quality between different age groups of studs. We hypothesized that older dogs have decreased fertility and semen quality in their ejaculates, as compared to younger dogs. [...]