Stallions

Question 1

what is a stallion?

Answer 1

entire male horse over the age of 4

Question 2

what is a colt?

Answer 2

an entire male horse under the age of 4

Question 3

what is a castrated male horse known as?

Answer 3

gelding

Question 4

when do testicles descend into the scrotum?

Answer 4

at birth or shortly after (can be up to two years)

Question 5

when do colts go through puberty?

Answer 5

12-24 months

Question 6

when do male horses reach sexual maturity?

Answer 6

4-5 years old

Question 7

what is the average length of spermatogenesis?

Answer 7

60 days

Question 8

what factors can influence the quality of sperm in stallions?

Answer 8

testicular size
age
season
frequency of ejaculation
general health/injury

Question 9

what can often be the limiting factor to how many mares a stallion can mate?

Answer 9

libido

Question 10

what is the suggested rate for the maximum number of matings a stallion should have per week?

Answer 10

15 (two per day)

Question 11

what should be done on a breeding examination of a stallion?

Answer 11

physical exam of external genitals
exam of internal genitals (ultrasound and endoscopy)
observe libido and mating ability
semen evaluation
testicular biopsy

Question 12

what are most stallions tested for at the start of each breeding season?

Answer 12

CEM (contagious equine metritis)

Question 13

what pathogen causes contagious equine metritis?

Answer 13

Taylorella equigenitalis

Question 14

where needs to be swabbed then testing for contagious equine metritis?

Answer 14

urethra
urethral fossa
penile sheath
pre-ejaculatory fluid

Question 14

what STIs are notifiable?

Answer 14

contagious equine metritis
equine viral arteritis (stallions/mated mares)

Question 17

what does equine viral arteritis cause in pregnant mares?

Answer 17

abortions

Question 18

what can be done to protect against equine viral arteritis?

Answer 18

vaccinate with artervac

Question 19

why is equine viral arteritis so problematic in stallions?

Answer 19

they become carriers (in testicles)

Question 20

what is paraphimosis?

Answer 20

inability to retract penis into sheath

Question 21

what should be done in cases of paraphimosis?

Answer 21

support the penis with a belly bandage or GA and role penis back inside and secure with a purse string

Question 22

what is priapism?

Answer 22

prolonged erection

Question 23

what is done to treat priapism?

Answer 23

flush corpus cavernosum with heparinised saline under GA

Question 24

why should extra care be taken when rectalling stallions?

Answer 24

higher risk of rectal tears

Question 25

what are some possible neoplasms stallions can get on their penis?

Answer 25

sarcoids squamous cell carcinoma melanoma papilloma

Question 26

what are the advantages of AI?

Answer 26

semen can be transported and stored (after death) ejaculates divided to get more matings reduces venereal disease risk reduces post-mating endometritis

Question 27

what are the disadvatages of AI?

Answer 27

specialist skills to collect, process, inseminate possible lower conception rates expensive and labour intensive not acceptable for Thoroughbreds

Question 28

how long does fresh semen last?

Answer 28

must use within a few hours

Question 29

how long does chilled semen last?

Answer 29

up to 48 hours

Question 30

how is chilled semen processed?

Answer 30

mixed with extenders and chilled to 5°C

Question 31

how is frozen semen processed?

Answer 31

mixed with extenders and cryoprotectants then frozen (complex cooling process)

Question 32

how long can frozen semen be stored for?

Answer 32

forever

Question 33

why shouldn't normal syringes be used to inseminate mares?

Answer 33

rubber is spermicidal

Question 34

where do you insert fresh/chilled semen into the mare?

Answer 34

just through the cervix

Question 35

what is the process for inseminated with frozen semen?

Answer 35

warmed gradually to 37°C in water bath, dried, inserted in cervix or uterine horn

Question 36

when should fresh/chilled semen be inseminated relative to ovulation?

Answer 36

48 hours before

Question 37

when should frozen semen be inseminated relative to ovulation?

Answer 37

as soon as possible 12 hours before or 6 hours after