{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T02:24:41Z","timestamp":1778034281791,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,9]],"date-time":"2023-03-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1678320000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A consistently high level of stallion fertility plays an economically important role in modern horse breeding. To better understand the factors affecting variation in stallion fertility, we have performed a statistical analysis study on some breeding factors: year of breeding, stud farm, age of the stallion, number of covered mares per stallion, reproduction methods, and age of the mare. This work was conducted on 94 purebred Arabian stallions in four different regions of Tunisia. The results showed an increase in the number of stallions during the study period, ranging from 11.33% in 2011 to 13.29% in 2018. Sidi Thabet\u2019s stud farm contained the highest number of purebred Arabian stallions. The majority of stallions were between 15 and 21 years old and had covered 1 to 20 mares; 95.19% of stallions were used in natural mating (Nat); 50.36% had low fertility, 17.69% had medium fertility, and 32.3% had excellent fertility according to fertility standards. Depending on the year and stud, there was a variation in fertility per cycle (FERPCE) and end-of-season fertility (FERPSE) of the stallions. The highest average FERPCE and FERPSE values were obtained using artificial insemination with fresh semen (AIF). Analysis of FERPCE and FERPSE showed that the model used in our study explained 40.21% of total variability observations for FERPCE and 42.1% for FERPSE. The used statistical model showed that the breeding year, the stud, the age of the stallion, the number of covered mares by stallions and the method of reproduction significantly affected both FERPCE and FERPSE (with p = 0.001). Low to moderate heritability estimations for FERPCE (hs2 = 0.08) and FERPSE (hes2 = 0.36) were obtained.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13060991","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,9]],"date-time":"2023-03-09T03:03:23Z","timestamp":1678331003000},"page":"991","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Reproductive Performance of Tunisian Arabian Stallions: A Study on the Variance and Estimation of Heritability"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3090-1673","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mariem","family":"Jlassi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, University of Carthage, Mateur 7030, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3961-6350","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bayrem","family":"Jemmali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, University of Carthage, Mateur 7030, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3237-554X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hadda Imen","family":"Ouzari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 2092, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Faten","family":"Lasfer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Foundation for the Improvement of the Horse Breed, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Belgacem Ben","family":"Aoun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Foundation for the Improvement of the Horse Breed, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Abderrahmane","family":"Ben Gara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, University of Carthage, Mateur 7030, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/0301-6226(90)90038-8","article-title":"Estimates of heritability and repeatability for reproductive traits in Australian beef cattle","volume":"25","author":"Meyer","year":"1990","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-6226(98)00157-2","article-title":"Developing a breeding objective for some French purebred beef cattle selection programs","volume":"57","author":"Phocas","year":"1998","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2007.11.010","article-title":"Days to calving in artificially inseminated cattle: Alternative models and analyses","volume":"117","author":"Robinson","year":"2008","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4333","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2008-1029","article-title":"Genetic evaluation of fertility traits of dairy cattle using a multiple-trait animal model","volume":"91","author":"Liu","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7952","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2014-8489","article-title":"Comparison of single-trait to multi-trait national evaluations for yield, health, and fertility","volume":"97","author":"VanRaden","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4904","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2014-8386","article-title":"Inbreeding and crossbreeding parameters for production and fertility traits in Holstein, Montb\u00e9liarde, and Normande cows","volume":"98","author":"Dezetter","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Miraglia, N., and Martin-Rosset, W. (2006). Nutrition and Feeding of the Broodmare, Wageningen Academic Publishers.","DOI":"10.3920\/978-90-8686-584-0"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1051\/rnd:2004055","article-title":"Statistical analysis of some factors affecting the number of horse births in France","volume":"44","author":"Langlois","year":"2004","journal-title":"Reprod. Nutr. Dev."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.4141\/CJAS08067","article-title":"Genetic effects on reproductive traits in Warmblood horses","volume":"89","author":"Wolc","year":"2009","journal-title":"Can. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"66","article-title":"Longevity and life reproductive efficiency in Arabian broodmares","volume":"14","author":"Sabeva","year":"2011","journal-title":"Arch. Zootech."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1051\/animres:19770303","article-title":"Influence of the stallion on fertility in the breeding of blood horses","volume":"26","author":"Langlois","year":"1977","journal-title":"Ann. De Zootech. INRA\/EDP Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"(2007, December 01). Les Sellnow. Article Stallion Care, Stallion Fertility. Available online: https:\/\/www.thehorse.com\/articles\/20154\/enhancing-stallion-fertility."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.15232\/S1080-7446(15)30753-1","article-title":"Reproductive traits and their heritabilities in beef cattle","volume":"25","author":"Cammack","year":"2009","journal-title":"Prof. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Isabelle, B. (2023, January 01). La Fertilit\u00e9 dans l\u2032Esp\u00e8ce Equine. Le nouveau praticien v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire Equine. Available online: https:\/\/equine.le-nouveau-praticien-veterinaire.org\/."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"11","article-title":"Caract\u00e9risation mol\u00e9culaire des races chevalines autochtones en Tunisie","volume":"2","author":"Haddad","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. New Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Ginther, O. (1993, January 15). Reproductive Biology of the Mare: Basic and Applied Aspects, 2nd. Cross Plains, WI: Equiservices. Available online: https:\/\/babel.hathitrust.org\/cgi\/pt?id=penn.ark:\/81431\/p3cv4bv2v&view=1up&seq=2."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"4388","article-title":"Reproductive performance of Thoroughbred horses beds in Tunisia: What results compared to the Arab horses","volume":"74","author":"Najjjar","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. New Sci. Agric. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"438","DOI":"10.2746\/042516407X1737581","article-title":"Reproductive efficiency of Flatrace and National Hunt Thoroughbred mares and stallions in England","volume":"39","author":"Allen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Casenave, P. (2017). Analysis of the Reproductive Performance of Mares Followed within the Framework of a Veterinary Clientele. [Ph.D. Thesis, National Veterinary School of Toulouse]."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Anne, M. (2022, December 01). Calcul de fertilit\u00e9. Equip\u00e9dia (ifce): French Institute of Horses and Riding. Available online: https:\/\/equipedia.ifce.fr\/elevage-et-entretien\/elevage\/etalon\/calculs-de-fertilit\u00e9."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Anne, M., and Pauline, D. (2020, June 26). La Monte en Main. Available online: https:\/\/equipedia.ifce.fr\/elevage-et-entretien\/elevage\/reproduction\/monte-en-main."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Laurent, V., and Margat, A. (2017, August 07). Le Choix des Techniques de Reproduction. Available online: https:\/\/equipedia.ifce.fr\/elevage-et-entretien\/elevage\/reproduction\/le-choix-des-techniques-de-reproduction."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.1990.tb00465.x","article-title":"Some Aspects of Reproductive Performance in Arabian Mares in Egypt","volume":"25","author":"Seida","year":"1990","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Margat, A. (2017, August 07). B\u00e9n\u00e9dicte. Gestion de la jument reproductrice. Equipedia. French Institute of Horses and Riding. Available online: https:\/\/equipedia.ifce.fr\/elevage-et-entretien\/elevage\/jument\/gestion-de-la-jument-reproductrice."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"1","article-title":"Genetic and quantitative evaluation of breeding traits in thoroughbred mares","volume":"8","author":"Taveira","year":"2007","journal-title":"Redvet. Rev. Electronica."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1662","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731109990553","article-title":"Effects of inbreeding and other genetic components on equine fertility","volume":"3","author":"Sairanen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1351","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731120000087","article-title":"Phenotypic and genetic analysis of reproductive traits in horse populations with different breeding purposes","volume":"14","author":"Sanchez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Ducro, B., Bovenhuis, H., Stout, T., and Arendonk, J. (2011). Genetic parameters and founder inbreeding depression on semen quality in Friesian horses. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wageningen]."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"354","article-title":"Fruchtbarkeits assoziierter Spermaqualit\u00e4ts parameter bei Hannoveraner Warmblut hengsten","volume":"85","author":"Labitzke","year":"2013","journal-title":"Z\u00fcchtungskunde"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"584","DOI":"10.1111\/rda.12326","article-title":"Genetic parameters and breeding values for semen characteristics in Hanoverian stallions","volume":"49","author":"Labitzke","year":"2014","journal-title":"Repr. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"5","article-title":"Fortpflanzung leistung Hannoverscher Hengste und Beziehungen zu deren Leistungspr\u00fcfung","volume":"55","author":"Bruns","year":"1983","journal-title":"Z\u00fcchtungskunde"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Dohms, T. (2002). Einfluss von genetischen und umweltbedingtenFaktoren auf die Fruchtbarkeit von Stuten und Hengsten. [doctoral thesis in veterinary medicine, FN-VerlagWarendorf]."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"547","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2011.03.007","article-title":"Relationship between sperm motility, morphology and the fertility of stallions","volume":"76","author":"Love","year":"2011","journal-title":"Theriogenology"}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/13\/6\/991\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:51:25Z","timestamp":1760122285000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/13\/6\/991"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,9]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3]]}},"alternative-id":["ani13060991"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani13060991","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,9]]}}}