Electroejaculation (EE) is an alternative technique for semen collection from untrained males or those with sexual behavior issues. However, its effects on semen quality in domestic ruminants remain inconsistent across studies. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of EE on selected fresh and post-thaw semen quality parameters in the bull, male goat and ram, using a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 studies during the period from 1990 to 2025 were included. Seven outcomes were evaluated including: semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm motility, sperm morphology, and viability in fresh semen, as well as post-thaw total sperm motility and DNA integrity. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistics. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, Egger’s test and trim-and-fill analysis, while robustness was assessed through leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Results showed that EE was positively associated with increased semen volume, while total sperm motility, sperm morphology, and post-thaw DNA integrity were not significantly affected. On the other hand, EE was significantly associated with decreased sperm concentration, sperm viability and post-thaw total motility. Meta-regression analysis showed that the overall effect size of EE compared with the artificial vagina (AV) method showed non-significant temporal change over the past three and a half decades. These findings indicate that EE remains a useful method for semen collection under specific circumstances.

To Cite This Article: Pantecostoma RR, Ngarmkum S, Damrongwatanapokin T, Mitsuwan W, Nuraini DM, Andityas M and Poolkhet C, 2026. Effects of electroejaculation on semen quality in domestic ruminants: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. Pak Vet J, 46(7): 1649-1657. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.160