Abstract
The Baudet du Poitou is a vanishing donkey breed recognized for engendering robust working mules. In Chile, only two pure breed Poitou males exist, which belong to the Chilean army and are used for mule production. We performed an extensive sperm and seminal analysis of these two jackasses aged 3 and 6 years and investigated the use of a simple hypometabolic extender for sperm cryopreservation. Computer-assisted sperm analysis showed high motility, velocity, and linearity in sperm movement. The seminal plasma analysis revealed that sodium and chloride were the main electrolytes, and globulins were the main metabolites. Active and variable enzymatic activity was observed. New information is reported about gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, zinc, and magnesium concentrations in seminal plasma of Poitou donkeys. Ejaculates among jackasses showed some variability due to individual variability and different stages in sexual maturation according to age. The freezability index analysis based in viability, total motility and progressive motility with Botucrio extender (57.1 ± 11.0%; 56.6 ± 20.0%; and 22.6 ± 10.3%, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.05, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively) than with HM-0 extender (42,6 ± 11.4%; 14.9 ± 5.1%; and 1.0 ± 2.5%, respectively). We report new information on Poitou donkey semen and cryopreservation in the Southern Hemisphere that could be useful in donkey breeding and conservation programs to develop strategies that improve the effectiveness of population management of this breed.
Highlights
Donkeys are an important socio-economic support for human livelihood [1, 2]
Sperm Quality The results of sperm quality and motility parameters of both Poitou donkeys are shown in Tables 1, 2, respectively
Differences were observed in normal morphology and progressive motility values between our study and those mentioned above
Summary
One of the oldest domestic donkey breeds is the Baudet du Poitou (Studbook since 1884). This French breed is highly recognized and requested for engendering robust mules useful in agricultural and army activities [3]. This breed is classified as “endangered-maintained,” which indicates a worldwide population of pure breed animals of up to 6–20 males and 100–1,000 females [4]. There is limited empirical information on the current world population of Poitou donkeys because they are mainly owned by hobby-breeders of small farms [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
