Influence of the addition of 1% honey on kinetic parameters of refrigerated equine semen
Ramon Barros da Cunha- Leonardo Reis Silva
- Gabriela Gonçalves Lobato
- Sebastião Tavares Rolim Filho
- Haroldo Francisco Lobato Ribeiro
- Arthur Irlan Lima da Mota
- Giovana Aiko Ueoka Osternack
Published 2026-02-18
Keywords
- Stallions,
- Organic Honey,
- Seminal Parameters,
- Refrigerated semen
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2026 Ramon Barros da Cunha, Leonardo Reis Silva, Gabriela Gonçalves Lobato, Sebastião Tavares Rolim Filho, Haroldo Francisco Lobato Ribeiro, Arthur Irlan Lima da Mota, Giovana Aiko Ueoka Osternack
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The reproductive performance of a stallion depends on several interrelated factors. Therefore, to maximize the reproductive performance of these animals, various techniques are used to enhance semen quality, among which centrifugation with subsequent removal of the seminal plasma and the addition of honey to the extender have shown favorable results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding 1% organic honey to the Botu Sêmen Transporte® extender on the seminal parameters of vigor, total motility, and progressive motility of semen refrigerated at 5 °C at different times. The experiment was conducted at a stud farm located in Soure, on Marajó Island, PA, with four Quarter Horse stallions, each subjected to five collections using an artificial vagina. The samples were divided into control groups (extender only) and experimental groups (with or without centrifugation and the addition of 1% organic honey), evaluated after 12, 24, and 36 hours of storage. The results for vigor (2.75±0.50; P<0.05) and total motility (26.25±14.71 and 23.75±4.78) in the 36h groups that received honey supplementation showed a significant difference in the statistical analysis (SAS University Edition) compared to the control group. However, for progressive motility, the groups did not differ from each other. Regarding the comparative results between centrifuged and non-centrifuged groups, there was no statistical difference. It is concluded that the addition of 1% honey can contribute to the maintenance of seminal parameters during prolonged refrigeration, whereas centrifugation was not a factor that generated significant changes for the conservation of the kinetic parameters of the semen.
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