Characteristics and freezability of Kathiawari horse semen

Abstract

Semen was collected from 6 Kathiawari horses for its evaluation and freezing. The appearance of fresh semen was milky white to creamy and consistency of gel free semen was variably thin. The volume of total semen, gel free semen and gel in semen were 37.8±3.47, 25.8±2.13 and 12.0±2.22 ml, respectively. Mass and progressive sperm motility percent in gel free semen was 82.0±1.51 and 77.0±1.51, respectively. Mean sperm concentration in fresh semen was 173.75±8.86 × 106 ml-1. Post thaw sperm motility (PTM) % in 17 out of total 21 ejaculates (80%) was recorded up to an acceptable >30 and mean value 35.62±1.99. Five Kathiawari horses were moderate to good freezer (PTM, 30 to 45%), whereas one stallion was poor freezer (PTM, 5 to 10%). The study indicated that the semen from Kathiawari stallions can be cryopreserved at farmers’ door using vapor freezing technique for encouraging artificial insemination and their conservation.