Safe semen collection
Keywords: semen, stallion, collection
Image size: 1800 x 1261px
Both natural service and semen collection using a mare (a so-called "mount mare or "live mount") hold the potential for injury to a stallion. Clicking on this link will take one to a series images that illustrate such injuries and their treatment.
When natural service is practiced or if a live mount is to be used for semen collection, it is essential to tease the mare properly (nose-to-nose then nose-to-tail) as shown at lower left, to ascertain that she is in good standing heat before either of these procedures are attempted. A set of teasing stocks is being used to protect the stallion. The image at upper left shows how vulnerable the stallion's genitalia are during semen collection. At lower right a "phantom mare" or "dummy" is being used for collection. These structures are simple to build (see upper right) and it is usually easy to train a stallion to serve a phantom mare. Obviously this is much safer for the stallion than a live mount.
