Freezability and fertility of Marwari horse semen at farmer’s door step

Abstract

The present study was aimed to assess the success of Marwari horse semen freezing at owner’s doorstep (field level) besides to record conception rate and fertility using frozen semen for artificial insemination (AI). A total of 108 ejaculates out of twenty stallions were collected, evaluated and subjected for freezing. Ejaculates that had progressive sperm post-thaw motility (PTM) ≥30% were kept stored for use in AI as this is an internationally accepted minimum standard. AI was performed in Marwari mares at farm using frozen-thawed semen. In present study, sperm PTM in ejaculates subjected for freezing ranged between 7.5±1.44 to 46.5±1.44%. Based on sperm PTM% range ˂20, 20 to 40 and >40%, horses were categorized as poor, moderate and good freezers, respectively. Conception at the end of breeding season was 37.5% (36/96), while the average number of AI per conception was 2.66. Fertility of stallion’s using frozen semen AI was 37.5% and 36.45%, based on pregnancy at the end of breeding season and foal born, respectively. There were individual variations in ejaculates success to freezing, however, semen can be frozen with satisfactory results in field that resulted in an acceptable conception and fertility using frozen semen in horses.