Neutrophil Prevalence In Dismount Semen Samples Of Thoroughbred Stallions

Abstract

Semen dismount samples from Thoroughbred stallions are routinely monitored after natural mating.1,2 Due to the relative ease of obtaining the sample, it is tempting to use features such as neutrophil presence to predict fertility.3-6 There are reports that neutrophils in a dismount sample from a stallion may indicate an inflammatory or infectious process in the reproductive tract of that stallion, or that they may be from the mare with an inflamed, and possibly infected reproductive tract with which the stallion has mated.2 The presence of neutrophils in dismount samples has been reported to decrease the odds of pregnancy.7,8 However, neutrophil prevalence in dismount samples of stallions with no reported fertility problems is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of neutrophils in stallion dismount samples from stallions with no perceived fertility problems. The study group consisted of commercial Thoroughbred stallions on a breeding farm in Eastern Australia.