How do I select the right breeding dummy for my stallion? What should I look for in a breeding phantom? Where do I start when researching breeding dummies? These are a few of the questions we’ve heard over the years as clients & stallion owners have begun the process to equip their facilities to collect stallions. We’ve always provided some very specific insight as to what features and attributes correlated to a successful and repeatable collection, but now we’ve found the information in one great location.
Dr. Sue McDonnell at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has a great paper presented at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual conference posted online identifying the key steps in identifying a breeding phantom for your stallion! The link is below, we’ll paraphrase from her paper (Thanks Dr. McDonnell!) here for you, but please check out her paper for more detailed recommendations.
Dr. McDonnell has spent many years studying equine behavior, specifically when it comes to breeding issues such as libido, mounting, and difficulty ejaculating. She has tied a number of these issues to specific features that can help address them. Specifically, a single, clean cut padded pedestal is very important. A smooth, snug-fitting cover made of a “cool” material free of wrinkles is also important. Modest padding and sturdy construction is imperative to safely collect your stallion, along with the position of the phantom within the breeding shed. She goes on to discuss the importance of grasping grooves (or hips) along with an appropriately angled barrel and height adjustment to ensure the dummy height matches that of the stallion. A contoured phantom can be very important as well to handle the different sizes of artificial vaginas.
Dr. McDonnell answers some frequently asked questions, many of which Breeder’s Choice has fielded over the years. Questions such as “Should a dummy be level or angled,” and “What covering fabrics are best for cleaning a dummy between stallions?” This is a wonderful article and a great resource for anyone interested in initiating their own stallion program or reaffirming their breeding dummy basics!
Dr. Sue McDonnell’s Article is here.
Check out Breeder’s Choice Breeding Phantoms, used by many of the great Universities and breeding farms around the world, Here. These phantoms are available with all the options listed by Dr. McDonnell in the article above including height adjustment, countouring, hips, fleece blankets, and much more!
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