Effect of Different Seasons and Thawing Protocols on Certain Seminal Attributes of Indian Standard Bred Stallion Semen Preserved using 1% Glycerol and 1% Dimethyl Formamide as Cryoprotectant

Standard bred stallion semen was collected during the breeding (n=5) (March-October) and non breeding (n=5) (November-January) seasons using artificial vagina for seven occasions on alternate days from each stallion for both seasons. Semen was evaluated for physical attributes, motility and membrane integrity, diluted using INRA 82 extender to which 2% egg yolk, 1% glycerol and 1% dimethyl formamide were added filled in french medium straws and cryopreserved by instant freezing over LN₂ Vapors. After 24 hours of storage, semen was thawed using three different protocols Treatment 1 (T1) 37^oC for 30 secs, Treatment 2 (T2) 60^oC for 8secs and Treatment 3 (T3) 75^oC for 7 secs. The post thaw motility, post thaw viability and post thaw HOS positive sperms were significantly higher during the non breeding season. The thawing protocol T2 was found to be the best during the breeding as well was non-breeding seasons.