Frozen Semen -- Easy as 1, 2, 3!By Carol AustinHave you heard that breeding mares with frozen semen is difficult and expensive? Or that conception rates are much lower than with live cover or fresh cooled semen? Or that veterinary costs are higher? Don't let misconceptions dissuade you from trying the most convenient, cost-effective method of breeding. Frozen semen conception rates are now comparable to those of live cover and fresh cooled, and more semen than ever is being frozen, making it possible for you to breed to the world's elite performance horse stallions. As with any breeding method, however, there are techniques for the use of frozen semen that result in optimal success. By understanding three basic requirements, you will have the best chance for achieving breeding success with frozen semen. 1) A GOOD MARE CANDIDATE. Breeding success depends most upon the mare. All a stallion can do is produce the sperm that will fertilize the egg, and no more. After that it's up to the mare to sustain a pregnancy. A relatively young mare is the best bet. A youngish mare who has a foal on her side, is having her first true heat (as opposed to a foal heat, which has a 35% or less conception rate) and who had no difficulties foaling, is the best choice. Already a proven producer, she is likely to have a normal cycle, and, because of her youth, usually has good uterine tone and normal hormonal functions. A young maiden mare is also a good choice, providing she has not recently come out of hard training. It often takes such mares a year or more to recover from the stresses of hard use and become efficient in their cycling. An older mare who has been a reliable producer and has a foal at foot will also often conceive with frozen semen. But, the older a mare gets the less reproductively reliable she becomes. She may have scaring from infections, loss of uterine tone, declining hormone levels and other difficulties. These mares must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. An older maiden mare (such as a 17 or 18-year-old performance mare at the end of her career) is a dubious choice. This type of mare can be difficult and expensive to get in foal, although some of them do end up conceiving. But it's a gamble--don't risk more than you can afford to lose. The worst mare candidate for breeding is any mare 17-years-old or older, who was barren the previous year. Such mares have a greatly reduced chance of ever getting in foal again, even with live cover breeding. Realize also that, although it's rare, some mares who are reproductively sound in all respects, and have no apparent problem, will not conceive with frozen semen. Their systems simply "don't like it." No matter which type of mare you choose to breed, have her in good health and do a pre-breeding reproductive soundness exam. It will be money well spent.2) QUALITY SEMEN. After the selection of a good mare candidate for breeding comes the purchase of quality semen. There are many factors that affect the quality of a stallion's semen, so let's assume that semen from a stallion was properly collected, processed and frozen well (which not all do), then when you inquire about a stallion's semen you should ask: a) how many straws are in a dose, b) how many sperm are in a dose (600-800 million sperm per dose is the industry standard, but new insemination techniques may allow success with fewer sperm per dose), c) what is the post-thaw motility of the sperm (35% is an industry minimum, 65% to 85% or better is expected in a quality product), d) has the semen been tested disease-free, and, e) what is the stallion's conception rate with frozen semen. This is important, as there are some stallions who meet all the above criteria, but who fail to impregnate mares. With young stallions who haven't had the opportunity to prove themselves as "frozen sires," you may just have to take a chance with semen that meets the other criteria. If you do, it's wise to have a backup dose of an "old reliable" frozen sire to use in case the mare doesn't settle. It's probably best, when using an unproven sire, to use a mare who has settled with frozen semen, so you're not working with two unknown factors. Dealing with reputable producers and brokers of frozen semen is another way of insuring success. They know how to collect, process, handle, transport and store semen to insure quality. They can also provide you with advice and information that will help you achieve a conception. Semen brokers are in a position to hear from many people about their successes and failures with different stallions, and most will pass that information on to their clients. 3) AN EXPERIENCED VETERINARIAN. When it comes to artificial insemination with frozen semen, a good veterinarian is one who has had experience using it, who stays abreast of the latest developments and technologies and who is willing to go the extra mile to check your near-to-ovulating mare at regular intervals around-the-clock, to be sure she is inseminated within the proper "window of opportunity." Veterinarians all have their areas of expertise and, if you can, you should use one experienced with artificial insemination using frozen semen. When selecting a veterinarian to do the insemination, ask him or her how many mares they have inseminated with frozen semen, and what their first-cycle conception rate is, as well as their overall rate. The conception rate for frozen semen ranges from 55 to 75%, the same as live cover. If the conception rate of the person you are interviewing falls well below that, reconsider your choice. If they don't have as much experience as you'd like, but you feel comfortable using them anyway, go for it. It's a skill that can be quickly mastered by an interested veterinarian willing to bring him or herself up-to-speed on the latest information and techniques. As long as they are willing to check the mare frequently and inseminate at the proper time, they have a good chance of success. And that's all there is to it. Now that you understand the three basic requirements for achieving breeding success with frozen semen, here's hoping you have the fourth and final ingredient - good luck! Carol Austin is a freelance writer and partner in Superior Equine Sires--Frozen Semen Import & Export Service. 509/738-6641 or 509/684/8449 www.SuperiorEquineSires.com |
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