2021•Equine Reproductive ProceduresRequires access
Centrifugation of Semen
Etta A. Bradecamp
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Abstract
Semen freshly collected from stallions is usually evaluated, extended, and either inseminated, cooled for short-term storage, or frozen. It is recommended that stallion semen be centrifuged if the ejaculate contains a low concentration of spermatozoa (i.e., less than 100 million sperm/ml) or if sperm motility is adversely affected by prolonged exposure to seminal plasma. Centrifugation of semen can be performed with or without the aid of a cushion medium. The purpose of the cushion is to allow the semen to be centrifuged at a higher g force to maximize the percentage of sperm harvested post-centrifugation without having a detrimental effect on the viability of the sperm. Cushioned centrifugation allows a higher centrifugation force for a longer time than traditional centrifugation of semen without the risk of mechanical damage and with a higher sperm recovery rate.