Artificial Insemination and Stud Work
Mares can be bred naturally by the stallion or by artificial insemination (AI).
AI means breeding of a mare from semen that has been collected and then inseminated into the uterus using special instruments. We are a BEVA approved Artificial Insemination Centre offering a comprehensive service for AI using fresh, chilled or frozen semen.
Why to choose AI?
In recent years we have seen an increase in demand for AI services due to a number of reasons:
Increase choice of the stallion
This is probably the most common reason why owners choose to use AI. It gives us worldwide access to stallions which can be competing or are even deceased. AI allows stallion semen to be divided into many doses (typically 10-15 from one collection) which means that more mares can be bred with less pressure on the stallion. Using special extenders and preserving techniques (cooling, freezing) allows us to ship the semen long distances.
Decreased chance of injury and disease control
AI does not only eliminate injuries to mares and stallions but also dramatically reduces the risk of injury to the staff involved in handling stallions and mares at service.
AI reduces the risk of diseases spread such as Equine Coital Exanthema (Herpes virus) or Contagious Equine Metritis.
Semen is evaluated each time it is collected
When using the method of natural service we often don’t know how good the semen is until we have pregnancy rates. Using AI we can look and measure parameters related to fertility every time we collect and we can establish exactly how many live sperm we have in one insemination dose.
Allows mare to be bred at the best time for conception and permits breeding of mares with problems
Using AI we can breed mares with physical disabilities that prevent them from being bred by natural service or mares that will not stand to be covered. Using ultrasound monitoring we can establish optimal time for insemination and use our insemination dose at the optimal time, thus increasing the chance of conception.
What type of semen to choose?
There are 3 methods of AI that can be performed: Fresh, chilled or frozen semen insemination. It depends on both the stallion and the mare which technique to use.
Fresh Semen
Insemination with fresh semen is suitable when the stallion is stabled at the same place or locally to the mare. Semen from stallions with good fertility can be used up to 6 hours after collection.
Chilled Semen
After collection, semen is centrifuged and mixed with special extenders, which also contains antibiotics. After that semen requires slow cooling (-0.5 to -0.1˚C/min) to 5˚C. Chilled semen is normally sent by courier in chilled containers and is ideally used within 24hours. Mares are monitored by ultrasound and insemination is done usually before ovulation. Sperms live in the mare’s reproductive tract for about 48hours when the ovulation should occur or another insemination dose should be used. This is probably the most popular type of insemination due to relatively low cost and high pregnancy rates. Using this technique we can import semen not only from the UK but also from Ireland or continental Europe.
Frozen Semen
The biggest advantage of using frozen semen is that we breed from stallions from anywhere in the world. Collected semen is centrifuged, mixed with cryoprotectans (egg yolk, glycerol) and then frozen. Frozen semen is stored in liquid nitrogen at -196˚C. At this temperature there is hardly any movement of atoms of the cells. This means that the lifespan of these cells (spermatozoa) is greatly prolonged and stallion semen can be frozen for over 20 years. Frozen semen is sent to us in special shipping containers and stored till the time of insemination. We routinely use a “deep intra-uterine” technique to deposit the semen at the tip of the uterine horn close to the ovulating follicle. The main disadvantage is that frozen semen can be less viable than fresh/chilled semen and therefore the pregnancy rates are slightly lower. Another factor is the cost – due to lower viability and small volume of insemination dose mares should be inseminated as close to ovulation as possible (ideally no more than 6hours), which requires very intensive monitoring of the mares.
I want to breed my mare, what do I do now?
Before any type of insemination is done, a mare’s reproductive tract should be examined (including ultrasonography examination) and the best type of technique should be discussed depending on individual circumstances. Every mare should be swabbed for CEM (Contagious Equine Metritis) and blood sampled for EVA (Equine Viral Arteritis). These are highly contagious diseases which can be transmitted during breeding and are therefore screened for. Despite the fact that AI minimises the spread of sexual transmitted diseases, the risk is not completely eliminated.
Most mares cycle from late February to late September and they do not cycle over the winter (winter anoestrus). One whole cycle lasts approximately 21days, of which 5-7days the mares are in season and ready to be bred. The use of hormone injections can help to predict the best possible timing of mare’s season and ovulation and therefore the best time for the insemination. It is also important to monitor the mare after the insemination as some mares can develop excessive inflammation in the uterus (post breeding endometritis). Uterine lavage with sterile warm saline is usually performed 4-12 hours post insemination to remove dead sperm and inflammatory cells. At this time the live sperm are in the oviducts and are not washed out or damaged by this procedure. Hormone injections are often used to stimulate contraction of the uterus. The first pregnancy scan is done between 14-17days post ovulation followed by further scans typically between days 24-28 and days 45-46 to check the pregnancy is progressing normally.
How do I choose a stallion?
It depends on the type of your mare, what your aspiration is of the foal and obviously on your budget.
Here are some links for the studs in both UK and Europe you may find useful:
UK:
http://www.countryfarmstud.co.uk/stallions.html
http://www.carrhousestud.co.uk/stallions.html
http://www.elitestallions.co.uk/index.php?id=6
Europe:
http://schockemoehle.com/eng/service-station-stud/
http://www.muller-equine.cz/?lang=en
http://www.team-nijhof.nl/apps/hengsten.php
There are obviously many more studs you can choose from.
After you have chosen the stallion, please provide us with a contact at the stud in order to organise shipping of the semen.
How much does it cost?
You can either pay separately for visit fees, examinations, ultrasonography, insemination and other fertility treatment or you can choose from our competitive AI packages.
1. Fresh/chilled semen package · Pre-breeding examination · All the scans associated with AI · Hormones injections (prostaglandins, HCG, Oxytocin, Ovuplant) · Insemination · “wash out”- post insemination intra uterine lavage · Caslicks operation if required(for mares with poor vulva conformation) · Up to 3 pregnancy scans · Early management of twin pregnancy · Price(excluding VAT): £195, £150 for subsequent cycle 2. Frozen semen package · Pre-breeding examination · All the scans associated with AI (these are usually every 4-6 hours for 2-3days) · Hormones injections (prostaglandins, HCG, Oxytocin, Ovuplant) · Deep intra–uterine insemination · “wash out”- post insemination intra-uterine lavage · Caslicks operation · Up to 3 pregnancy scans · Early management of twin pregnancy · Price (excluding VAT): £295, £250 for subsequent cycles What is not included in packages? · CEM swab and EVA blood test (this can be done by your vet), we offer a price of £60 (excluding VAT) including lab fees (Special PACKAGE ONLY price) · Treatment and further diagnostics of endometritis (apart from acute post breeding endometritis) · Non routine drugs (such as sedation), Regumate or drugs for other than reproductive treatment · Livery – for mares at Oakhill - £18 (excluding VAT) a day or visit fees for mares not at Oakhill - the price of the visit depends on where your mare is stabled. · Pregnancy scans after day 46
