Seminal characteristics and sexual behaviour in Ragusano donkeys (Equus asinus) during semen collection on the ground

The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of the semen collection by artificial vagina on the ground in donkeys and to evaluate the behavioral characteristics and semen parameters in Ragusano donkeys. The collection was performed on 8 stallions for 7 consecutive days, in the presence of a not-in-estrus jenny, after the extragonadal sperm reserve had been minimized by a previously 3 days semen collection. The obtained ejaculates showed a total number of sperms (TNS) of 14±5×109, high values of motility (80±10%) and viability (80±9%) and low percentage of sperm abnormalities. The latency time from jack presentation to the jenny to penis erection (T1) was 9±4 minutes, the time of ejaculation (T2) was 32±3 seconds, the overall time for semen collection (T3) was 14±5 minutes, and the number of pelvic thrusts (npt) was 7±1. T1 and T3 were statistically highly correlated (P=0.0066), while T2 significantly influenced TNS (P=0.05). Only sperm motility was significantly correlated to sperm viability (P=0.03). All the above data were similar to those previously observed in the donkey, by different techniques of semen collection, allowing us to validate the technique and to provide some reproductive data on this endangered breed.