Influence of semen collection on salivary cortisol release, heart rate, and heart rate variability in stallions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress response of stallions (n = 16) aged 3–13 years with previous sexual experience to semen collection by determination of heart rate, heart rate variability, and cortisol in saliva. Recordings were done on two consecutive days. The time intervals from leaving the box until arrival in the collection barn and from first exposure to the teaser mare until ejaculation as well as the number of mounts until ejaculation were neither affected by collection day nor by age, sexual experience (i.e., the number of breeding seasons the stallion experienced), or sexual workload of the stallion (i.e., the mean number of semen collections per week). Heart rate was continuously determined from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after ejaculation and significantly increased in response to the semen collection procedure (P < 0.001). Changes in heart rate were significantly influenced by sexual experience (P < 0.01) and sexual workload (P < 0.05) but not by the age of the stallions. Day of semen collection did not have any effects. The heart rate variability variable root mean square of successive RR differences was not affected by semen collection procedures. Cortisol concentration in saliva was determined from 60 minutes before to 120 minutes after ejaculation and did not change significantly. The results indicate that semen collection is perceived as not more than a modest temporary stressor in sexually experienced and well-trained stallions.