Quality of stallion semen obtained by a new semen collection phantom (Equidame (R)) versus a Missouri (R) artificial vagina

A study was performed to test a new semen collection device (Equidame(R) ph antom) that fractionates the ejaculate by comparing the quality of semen ob tained by the Equidame(R) phantom with that obtained by a Missouri(R) artif icial vagina. Semen from 4 Finnhorse stallions was collected 4 times per st allion by both methods. Half of the ejaculate was frozen and the other half extended and loaded into 2 Equitainer(R) transport containers (24- and 48- h samples). Motility parameters were determined by a Hamilton-Thorn motilit y analyzer after cooled storage for 24 and 48 h and again after freezing/th awing. Raw and chilled semen samples were cultured and the number of bacter ial colonies counted after incubations of 24 and 48 h. After a 24-h incubat ion the number of colony-forming units (CFU) in raw semen was significantly higher (P<0.01) when collected by the Missouri(R) artificial vagina than b y the Equidame(R) phantom. After cooled storage, 75% of the semen samples c ontained no bacteria after an incubation of 24 h,and 69% yielded no growth after 48 h. The sperm-rich fractions (Cup 2) collected by the Equidame(R) p hantom had lower mean volumes (22.1 +/- 2.3 mL [+/- SEM] versus 101.6 +/- 9 .3 mL) and significantly higher mean sperm concentrations (218.0 +/- 25.8 x 10(6) vs 86.2 +/- 8.1 x 10(6) cells/mL; P<0.05) than the total ejaculates collected by the Missouri(R) device. The total and progressive motility of chilled and frozen-thawed semen did not differ significantly between collec tion methods. The Equidame(R) phantom yielded semen that was of a lower bac teriological colony counts, but had sperm motility similar to that of semen collected with the traditional method by the Missouri(R) artificial vagina . (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science toe.