Packaging and shipping cooled semen
To ensure sperm survival proper packaging is critical. There are several excellent reviews on semen packaging (Aurich, 2008; Bradecamp, 2014b) and thus only certain important points will be highlighted. For packaging, several types of containers can be used such as Whirl-Pak® bags, latex/rubber free syringes, conical tubes or screw top tubes. The important point is the storage device does not leak during transportation. Traditionally, it was recommended to remove the air in stored extended semen; however this may not be critical as similar motility parameters and viability have been seen under aerobic and anaerobic conditions (Price et al., 2008). Next, there are many commercial cooled shipping containers. It is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s directions for packaging. Finally, make sure to clearly label the packaged semen and include easily identified documentation of the stallion, date and time of collection, sperm concentration, volume of extended semen and motility of the sperm being shipped within the container.
Acknowledments
I would like to thank G. Reed Holyoak for taking time to proof read this manuscript.
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