The collection of equine semen starts with a clean penis.
Hygiene in horse artifical insemination is a necessity in order to obtain high fertility rates. The stallion penis harbours bacteria and other pathogens, and all kinds of debris that can reduce the quality of the collected semen and reduce fertility rates.
Therefore, the start of the semen collection should be to clean the penis just befor the semen collection. The use of clean water is recommended in order not to disturb the natural population of bacteria.
The images below give an illustration.
The famous stallion Totilas is being brought for semen collection.
The penis is carefully cleaned by Bart Kools, while Totilas is being hold by his assistant.
The semen is collected in a special area and therafter immediately brought to the laboratory for dilution in Hippex extender.