Semen Collection Procedure:

The collection procedure should be predicatable so that the stallion becomes comfortable with the procedure. For example, we have a different stud chain used to handle the stallions during collection. When the handler comes to the stall with that chain and a helmet on the stallions know that they are going to be collected.

1. Tease Stallion: Get the stallion sexually prepared by teasing with one or more mares in estrus (the stallion must have an erection).
2. Wash the penis: Use warm water to wash the penis (42°C). Washing the penis helps to keep contaminants out of the semen (dirt, manure, etc).
• Use a clean disinfected bucket and gloves to avoid contamination of any other stallion or mare. As an extra precaution, we use a new disposable garbage bags in the bucket for every stallion/collection. Cotton or gauze can be used to clean very dirty stallions, but don't reuse it as that will contaminate the water.
• Avoid using any soaps that may be harsh or cause a change in the normal bacterial flora of the penis. We use plain warm water (40°C). If the penis is extremely dirty, you can use mineral oil to help disolve the smegma (secretions of the prepuce or sheath).
• Make sure to remove the "bean" if present (the ball of debris inside the glans penis).
• Remove the excess water as this is spermacidal.
3. Re-tease the stallion if needed.
4. Allow stallion to mount phantom.The collector must communicate with the stallion handler when the stallion and the collector are ready.
5. The penis is deviated with the right hand (placed under the shaft of the penis) and the penis directed into the AV. When ejaculation begins (tail flagging) the bottle end of the AV is lowered so that the semen flows into the bottle and not out onto the floor.
6. The AV is removed when the stallion is done ejaculating. The stallion may remain on the phantom for some time after ejaculation.
7. If necessary, the penis is rewashed to remove any excess gel. Most of our stallions lose the erection before they dismount the phantom so we do not do a post-wash.