Peculiarities of collection and cryopreservation of stallion sperm

Abstract

Horse breeding in Ukraine has always been an industry of national importance, the functional orientation of which has changed because of the development of socioeconomic relations. Currently, the role and importance of horses in state farms is complex nature. Breeding horses are used to improve existing and create new, more advanced breeds that would meet the requirements of European and world standards. Improving the efficiency of reproduction technologies in horse breeding and further progress of breeds is impossible without the implementation of methods of artificial insemination of horses, including cryopreservation of sperm. Multiple improvements have been achieved in the past 10 years with regard to utilization and processing of frozen stallion semen, use of alternative cryoprotectors and new commercially available extenders that allow beƩer cell protection during freezing. It is analyzed that there is only one licensed cryogenic sperm bank of certified sports stallions in Ukraine, which is located in Zhashkiv Equestrian School, from where sperm is transported abroad. It contributes to the improvement of the existing gene pool of horses in our country and promotes the industry. The technological process of selection and cryopreservation of sperm in breeding stallions of the Belgian sport breed in the Zhashkiv Equestrian School of Cherkasy region is investigated. The latest methods for selection and cryopreservation of stallion sperm are presented. It has been investigated that cryopreservation using pre-cooling of sperm for 2.5 h and subsequent rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen vapors is an effective method for maintaining the fertilizing ability of stallions. It is established that following the above rules of selection, evaluation, calculation, dilution, packaging, cryopreservation, and storage of sperm of high-value stallions, the number of sperm banks might be increased. This popularizes the industry, allows to increase the number of farms for breeding horses, and to develop scientific developments in biotechnology and reproduction of these animals.&nbsp