PSU Horse Barns Web Project
Dr. Nancy Diehl, Instructor

Hand Breeding vs. Artificial Insemination

By Jacklyn Gorda

Some important factors to look at in a breeding program are:

Safety – is a significant concern with reproduction in horses, for both the handlers and the horses.

Heat Detection - Penn State keeps a Mare Breeding Health Record Book that tracks the mares’ estrous cycles. For more information please refer to the web page on Heat Detection.

Layout of Breeding Facilities – when choosing a location one should consider the flooring, it is desirable to have a level area that provides traction. Another consideration should be safety. The area should be open and have few if any physical barriers. This is highly recommended for the protection of horse and handler.

Natural, In- Hand Breeding

Figure 1. Hand Breeding

Up until 2004, hand breeding has been the most commonly used reproductive technique for horses at Penn State. The majority of hand breeding took place just outside of the horse barns. This area has a level surface, good traction, and is away from physical barriers. The procedure may vary slightly for each individual horse. Penn State routinely uses a twitch as restraint for the mare, which is not necessary for all mares nor is it standard operating procedure for all breeding farms. Some mares may stand receptively (with their back hunched, hind legs spread, and their pelvis tipped down) while others are not as compliant even though they are in heat. A twitch or hobbles may be placed on the mare to decrease movement and kicking at the stallion.

The mare’s tail is bandaged and her vulva is washed with water and a mild liquid soap. The stallion is only allowed to approach the mare at a controlled walk. Once the stallion achieves an erection his penis will also be washed with warm water. The stallion is then permitted to walk to approach the mare, mount, and breed.

Artificial Insemination

With the addition of new stallions and more mares to the breeding herd, Penn State has instituted semen collection and artificial insemination for nearly all breeding procedures. See the web pages on the breeding shed for more information on semen collection.

Semen Processing, Briefly:

After collection and evaluation, the semen will either be inseminated as fresh or chilled. The fresh semen should remain at body temperature, and inseminated as soon as possible. The chilled semen can be stored up to 48 hours in a 39 – 41 F container. When working with chilled semen, extenders must be added (there are many dry skim milk extenders available commercially). Chilled semen is saved or transported in one of a number of insulated storage containers commercially available, two are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 2. Equitainer II, Hamilton Research, Inc.

Figure 3. Equine Express II

Insemination Procedure:

The insemination technique is the same for both fresh and chilled semen. The mare should be placed in a stock for both safety of handler and horse. First the mare should be washed with mild soap and her tail bandaged. The inseminator will be wearing a sterile sleeve that extend to his/her shoulder. Lubrication will then be placed on the hand and forearm for easy entry into the vagina. The inseminator will cup their hand over the end of a pipette as they guide it toward the cervix. He or she uses a forefinger to guide the pipette through the cervix and into the uterus. The semen will be in a non-rubber plunger syringe, which is attached to the exposed end of the pipette. The syringe plunger is slowly depressed depositing the semen into the uterus.

Figure 4. Artificial Insemination

Volume Requirements

Fresh semen -500 million progressive, morphologically normal sperm

Chilled semen -1 billion progressive, morphologically normal sperm

Deciding on whether to use Hand Breeding or Artificial Insemination?

Here are some positive and negative aspects to each Procedure.

Table 1. Pros and Cons on Hand breeding

Pros	Cons
Natural breeding process	Spread disease
Relatively Quick procedure	Have to transport mare to stallion
Simple	Risk of injury to the horses and handlers
Easy with good handlers for the mare and stallion	Can be physically demanding on both the mare and stallion

Table 2. Pros and Cons on Artificial Insemination

Pros	Cons
Disease control	Expensive (vet, shipping, breeding, and stallion fee, totaling $200 – 300 or more)
Reduce risk of injury	More technically complex
Reduces need to transport mares	Semen may be lost in transport, other technical difficulties or accidents
One stallion can usually breed more mares, both with a single ejaculate and over an entire breeding season	Not all breed societies accept this type of breeding

The content of this web page was produced by students in our Advanced Horse Production and Management (AnSc 407, 2004) course at Penn State. This page is not a product of the Equine Science Team. As such, it is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. For recommendations specific to your farm or horse you should consult your equine veterinarian, local horse professional or County Extension Agent.

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is implied. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R. Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University.

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