Effects of Exercise on Donkey Semen Parameters and Some Physiological Indices.
Authors: Yang Feng, Wu Shuaishuai, Yang Weigang, Yu Jie, Liu Bing, Zeng Shenming
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Reproductive soundness in working donkeys remains poorly characterised compared to horses and cattle, prompting researchers to investigate whether exercise protocols might influence semen quality and associated physiological markers in 18 Dezhou jackasses over an 8-week period. Animals were divided into sedentary controls and two exercise cohorts (1 and 2 hours on a walking machine, three times weekly), with semen collected and analysed weekly alongside measurement of heart rate, rectal temperature, haematological indices, and body condition scoring. Whilst ejaculation volume increased following exercise and sperm concentration decreased—likely reflecting haemodilution rather than testicular dysfunction—other critical semen parameters including motility and morphology remained unaffected, and resting reproductive hormone profiles showed minimal change. The more encouraging findings emerged in systemic physiological adaptation: the 2-hour exercise group exhibited increased red blood cell count and decreased mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration consistent with improved oxygen delivery, whilst both exercise groups demonstrated significantly reduced resting heart rates, indicating cardiovascular conditioning. These results suggest that moderate, consistent exercise enhances general fitness in donkeys without compromising reproductive capacity, which has implications for breeding programmes involving working animals where balancing labour demands with semen collection and breeding goals is essential.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Moderate exercise programs can improve cardiovascular fitness in donkeys without compromising overall semen quality, though ejaculation volume and sperm concentration change
- •Exercise-induced changes in blood parameters suggest positive cardiovascular adaptations; monitor these as markers of fitness in working donkeys
- •Eight weeks of regular exercise does not negatively impact reproductive hormone profiles, supporting safe use of breeding donkeys in exercise programs
Key Findings
- •Eight weeks of exercise (1-2 hours, 3 days/week) increased ejaculation volume but decreased sperm concentration in donkeys
- •Red blood cell number increased (P=0.023) and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration decreased (P=0.045) in the 2-hour exercise group
- •Resting heart rate decreased significantly in both exercise groups compared to control after 8 weeks
- •Most semen parameters and reproductive hormones were unaffected by exercise training