Research in the area of equine artificial insemination (AI) has led to its increased application in field trials. However, procedures for equine semen collection, cooling and freezing of semen and artificial insemination need further improvement. In experiment 1, we investigated the percentage of total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) of sperms at after-collection, cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 2, mares were inseminated with either cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 3, we examined the effect of buffer (skim-milk extender), which was infused into the uterus at the time of AI with frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 4, we compared AI pregnancy rates for mares ovulating spontaneously versus after treatment with hCG. In experiment 1, the average percentage of TM was decreased from 75.3% to 14.4% at the stage of after-collection to frozen-thawed semen (p<0.05). The average percentage of PM was 58.2% and 59.6% at after-collection and cooled-diluted, but it was significantly increased 71.7% after frozen-thawed (p<0.05). In experiment 2, the pregnancy rates after AI using cooled-diluted, cooled-transported and frozen-thawed semen were 60%, 50% and 37.5%, respectively, and similar among treatments. In experiment 3, the pregnancy rate of mares infused with buffer at AI was 40% which was higher than that with no buffer (10%). In experiment 4, the pregnancy rates of mares were similar between ovulated spontaneously (25%) and ovulated with hCG (50%). The results suggest that equine semen that has been cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen can be successfully used to establish AI, pregnancy and foal production. Also, the pregnancy rates after AI can be increased by infusing buffer into the uterus at AI or by inducing ovulation with hCG, but further study is need.

• 박용수(경상북도축산기술연구소)
• 조길재(경북대학교 수의과대학)