Abstract
Abstract The prediction of a stallion's fertility is one of the main unresolved problems in horse breeding. Despite many studies of the relationship between seminal characteristics and fertility, we are not able to evaluate with certainty the breeding capacity of a stallion. Stallion selection and fertility prediction are routinely based on the analysis of seminal and behavioural parameters. Basal blood hormone concentrations and their modification after different stimulation are also used for diagnosis. Although the methods developed in some laboratories may explain established subfertility or infertility, mainly detected by abnormal seminal characteristics and/or pregnancy rate, they cannot yet be used for general infertility detection. Such tests are based on spermatozoal morphology, e.g. chromatin and membrane integrity analyses, and spermatozoal functionality, e.g. motility evaluation, zona pellucida-sperm binding assay, and on seminal plasma composition. At this stage we have no idea of the frequency of the abnormalities demonstrated by these methods nor any idea of their correlation with subfertility or infertility.
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