Sexual behavior of stallions during in-hand natural service and semen collection: an observation in French studs

The sexual behavior of 42 stallions from French national and private studs was examined in two contexts: semen collection for artificial insemination (AI) and in-hand natural service (NS). Each stallion was observed twice in the same context. Erection and ejaculation latencies, the number of mounts...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal reproduction science 2001-12, Vol.68 (3), p.161-169
Main Authors: Noue, P., Bernabé, J., Rampin, O., Vidament, M., Dumas, T., Palmer, E., Magistrini, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Breeding
Computer Science
Ejaculation
Ejaculation - physiology
Erection
Female
France
Horses - physiology
Insemination, Artificial - veterinary
Life Sciences
Male
Semen - physiology
Sexual behavior
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Sexual reflexes
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Summary:The sexual behavior of 42 stallions from French national and private studs was examined in two contexts: semen collection for artificial insemination (AI) and in-hand natural service (NS). Each stallion was observed twice in the same context. Erection and ejaculation latencies, the number of mounts leading to ejaculation, dismount latency and total breeding time were measured and compared between AI and NS. Mount without erection was rare (6/83 observations). Erection latency was 89±11 s, and was not different between NS (62±22 s) and AI (100±13 s, P=0.128). Stallions ejaculated after either one mount (62/83 observations), or two (11/83 observations) or three mounts (10/83 observations). Ejaculation latency was 85±15 s (84±19 in AI and 86±28 in NS). If 1st mount did not lead to ejaculation, then ejaculation latency increased several fold following the 2nd mount during both AI and NS. The results provide reference measures for semen collection in French studs. Difference in erection latency between AI and NS, although not statistically significant, may reflect different contributions of excitatory inputs from the brain and the genital area to the activation of spinal networks controlling erection. In contrast, lack of difference in ejaculation latency between AI and NS suggests that the spinal network that controls ejaculation follows a more rigid motor pattern.
ISSN:0378-4320
1873-2232
DOI:10.1016/S0378-4320(01)00153-1