Preparing Stallions for Breeding Season

The Educated Horseman: Reproduction Series

A breeding soundness exam is a useful tool that stallion obtain an within two minutes, display a read- owners and managers can use to evaluate the reproductive iness to mount within 5-10 seconds following erection status of their stallion. The objective of a BSE is to determine if and should ejaculate on first mount. The total breeding a stallion has the mental and physical ability to produce viable time should not take longer than five minutes. A young offspring without spreading infectious disease. Although this stallion, or one that does not display normal breeding type of evaluation is critical to determine the number of behavior, may need additional training by an experi- a stallion can successfully cover in a given year, most often this enced handler. step is overlooked until there is a problem. While the specifics • evaluation. Specialized equipment is used to of a BSE may vary among veterinarians, each evaluation evaluate the volume, concentration, motility and mor- should include: phology of a semen sample. The color and consistency • Reproductive history. The history needs to be com- of the sample and its contents, such as debris, urine or plete to avoid inaccuracies. The following information blood, are examined, too. This evaluation determines should be collected: age; present numbers of mares the number of viable sperm cells available, which covered, including their pregnancy rate, foaling rate or indicates the number of mares a stallion can breed infection; data from previous evaluations; lameness; per collection. In special circumstances, additional illnesses; fertility issues; current medications; health testing might be needed to rule out any reproductive status; and intended method of breeding. dysfunction. • Physical exam. Although a breeding soundness exam Although a breeding soundness exam can give stallion focuses on the reproductive health of stallions, the owners an indication of potential reproductive soundness, general health of the animal should not be overlooked. it does not measure fertility. To “pass” a breeding soundness It is important to positively identify the stallion to exam, a stallion’s second ejaculate collected one hour after the prevent legal complications, and then focus on the first one must contain at least a “1 billion progressively motile, ’s body condition score. Pay attention to any morphologically normal spermatozoa.” Advanced breeding abnormality (physical or genetic) that may inhibit the technologies exist to help extend a stallion’s breeding career. animal’s ability to mate successfully without passing on Therefore, managing your horse’s overall health and repro- negative heritable conditions, including lameness or ductive soundness in cooperation with your veterinarian can back pain. extend your animal’s overall career and impact on the equine • Reproductive genitalia exam. An evaluation on the industry. reproductive anatomy is also important. The stallion’s , sheath, testes and epididymis should be anatom- Visit our website: www.LSUAgCenter.com ically correct, functional and free from injury or disease. Size, shape and consistency of the testes and epidid- Author ymis should be noted. A veterinarian may choose to Neely Walker, Ph.D. use a set of calipers or an ultrasound to determine the Assistant Professor (Equine Specialist) overall volume of each , which is a valuable School of Animal Sciences measurement that helps determine the stallion’s daily sperm output. References: Squires, E. 2015. A Stallion Breeding Soundness Exam. SRS Breeders Blog. • Sexual behavior. Some stallions may have an aversion Samper, J.C. 2009. Equine Breeding Management and . 2nd Edition. to displaying natural breeding behavior based on Bedford-Guaus, S.J. 2014. Breeding Soundness Examiniation of Stallions. The Merck previous training. For example, stallions used as perfor- Veterinary Manual. mance animals and for show are expected to “behave” Pub. 3532 (online only) 4/16 and not display breeding behavior. The training used to B. Richardson, LSU Vice President for Agriculture teach them to control this natural behavior may create Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station difficulties in the breeding shed. During a breeding Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service soundness exam, a stallion should have immediate LSU College of Agriculture interest and interaction with a in heat, should The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.