Bacterial Culture in the Stallion

Cultures of the stallion's external genitalia and semen may be performed as part of a routine breeding soundness examination, as a requirement for import or export purposes, as a routine procedure prior to the start of the breeding season, or performed as part of an infertility assessment. Bacterial and/or fungal cultures of a stallion may include culturing semen, the urethra pre- and post-ejaculation, the penile shaft, the prepuce, the urethral fossa, and the urethral sinus. This chapter summarizes step by step procedure for culturing a stallion's external genitalia, fresh cooled semen and frozen semen. It outlines some necessary conditions for bacterial culture in the stallion.