Semen Shipping Container

Kathy Anderson, Extension Horse Specialist, University of Nebraska

Shipping containers have been developed which cool stallion semen at the correct, prescribed rate. Semen cooled at a rate too fast will result in irreversible damage to the spermatozoa or cold shock. Semen can be cooled relatively quickly from 37 C (99 F) to 20 C, but must be slow cooled at a rate of .05C/min from 20 C to 5 C (47 F). These containers cool semen over a 10 hour period, and hold the semen at 5 C (47F). A common refrigerator cannot be used to cool semen because the cooling rate will be too fast.