AND AWAY WE GO...
Collecting and Preparing
Semen for Boyage
Republished
with permission from Horse Sport
Involved in horse
breeding for almost 20 years, Jos Mottershead owns and operates
Atlantic A.I. Services, an artificial insemination and semen
processing business in Nova Scotia, which collects and processes
semen for on-farm and transported use or for freezing and breeds
mares using all forms of semen. Here, Jos provides a shopping
list for anyone looking to set up for semen collection and transport.
Collection of semen and the preparation for transport or on-farm
artificial insemination (A.I.) is not difficult, although care,
knowledge and attention to detail is required in all stages.
There is also a financial requirement in that there is some essential
basic equipment, and if one chooses to get "fancy"
(or lazy!) there is a whole host of other equipment that can
be bought as well.
Before I actually get into a discussion of what is required,
I always recommend that someone starting out with semen collection
either go to a short course offered by a suitable university
or seek out a farm or business that is already processing semen,
and is willing to allow you to "ride along" and learn.
Semen is fragile, and if not handled in a responsible manner,
will very quickly lose its viability. So much can cause harm
- exposure to sudden changes of temperature, sunlight, many toxic
substances (even air and water under the wrong circumstances).
In fact, it's one of life's ironies that seminal plasma itself
is toxic to sperm over an extended period of time!
So assuming that you have either completed a course, or hung
out with your friendly neighbourhood equine veterinarian, let
us look at what is going to be essential equipment.
Artificial Vagina
Generally semen is collected using an artificial vagina (A.V.).
There are different types of A.V.s available but all are of the
same general design format with a tubular inner liner surrounded
by a fillable water jacket encased in a harder outer shell.
Once you've chosen the A.V. that you feel is suitable for you
and your stallion, you will have to get the associated equipment
required to fill it and use it. This would include such items
as a thermometer capable of registering up to about 50_
Celsius; disposable liners if you've chosen to use them
(very convenient, and save on cleaning the A.V., and reduce the
danger of cross-contamination if more than one stallion is being
collected); a suitable lubricant such as Sterilube
- you should note that not all lubricants are suitable, the "bacteriocidal"
lubricants may be spermicidal. We actually use mineral oil, which
is cheap, and about as harmless as you can find; disposable
rectal sleeves to apply the lubricant to the interior of
the A.V.; collection bottles and filters, depending upon
what model of A.V. you are using; a funnel to assist in
filling the A.V. with water; and a plastic gallon jug, which
is useful for putting the water in that you are going to fill
the A.V. with, and which allows the temperature of the water
to be taken prior to filling.
Microscope
Undoubtedly at the top of the laboratory equipment list is a
microscope. If you read veterinary journals, you will find that
a "phase contrast" microscope is always recommended
for semen analysis. When you check the price of such a creature,
the great plans for collecting at home often come to a grinding
halt, as their price starts at about $3,500! Fear not. For the
average "on-farm" user, doing basic collections and
semen analysis, an ordinary "bright light" microscope
will suffice.
You may come across advertisements for microscopes with "heated
stages", and also see recommendations that your microscope
for semen analysis have one. But as long as you turn your microscope
on ahead of time, there will be some warming of the stage by
the light source. You must be aware at all times however, that
your microscope stage is not maintaining a perfect 37_ Celsius,
and make adjustments accordingly. If you are looking at a semen
sample that has just come from a cooled transporting container,
then it will, of course, have to be warmed! Likewise, if your
stage tends to be hot, don't be surprised to find the sperm on
the microscope slide clumped and immotile after 10 minutes exposure!
Incubator or Water Bath
As sperm is very heat (or cold) sensitive, you will need an incubator
or water bath. This piece of equipment keeps anything that is
going to come into contact with the semen at body temperature
(38_). As this will include the microscope slides and cover
slips, an incubator is easier to use than a water bath. Other
items that will need to be stored in the incubator (or water
bath) will be the semen extender; any glassware that is to be
used, such as a measuring beaker; and, at times, the semen itself.
Glassware
You will need something to measure the volume of the ejaculate.
A glass beaker is good, or a disposable plastic one.
The advantage of plastic is that you will not have to sterilize
after each use, merely throw it away. In the long term of course,
the disposable route is more expensive (although unless you are
very sure of your sterilization techniques, it is far preferable).
Some A.V.s come with collection bottles that are graduated and
will give a close enough estimate for the average collection
situation. If, however, you are using all-in-one disposable liners
or are using another collection method, then you will still require
the graduated beaker. A 250 mL beaker will suffice in most instances
- remember you may want to mix the ejaculate and extender in
it, so go larger rather than smaller.
Microscope slides and cover slips are also included in the glassware
category.
>>>> continued
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