| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| LesleyA |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 2:33:47 PM
I'm looking into using frozen semen on my mare but have just been quoted £598 for 2 cycles!
What experiences have you all had using frozen semen and what charges have you incurred?
Thanks
PS She is an 8 year old who has had 2 foals before by natural covering. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 31 Mar 2011 : 12:11:01 PM
Thanks, Barb. Note to self: don't type while talking on the phone and in a rush or "engage brain before putting mouth (or in this case finger) in gear!
Donna, God didn't make semen with the intention of it being frozen. No discredit to the fertility of the stallion who don't freeze.
Barbara |
| Pashon2001 |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 7:14:13 PM
Thats what I meant Barbara. I have done a lot of research, and 'swimmers' don't necessarily get mares in foal, whether natural, chilled or frozen! A scientist in Belgium did a study on one of my boys semen and although they were alive and kicking they were missing a certain factor that made them viable. So in that instance it proved that mobility and motility were of no consequence! Sometimes this can be due to the extender, or the stallions semen just doesnt take to chilling or freezing (no one really knows why). On my own rather makeshift studies I have done here at home its amazing the difference in longevity of different boys under different circumstances! |
| barb |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 6:54:53 PM
Think you mean extender Barbara, lol. With frozen semen it is crucial that the mare is below a certain age and without any obvious problems. It is also very important to inseminate at the right time, just at ovulation is IT and you need a very experienced vet for the many necessary scans to see how the follicle is doing. We do very well with our vet, no complaints. |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 6:41:35 PM
I have heard of frozen semen where the motility is OK but mares just don't get in foal, maybe due the expander???? |
| egzotyka |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 11:34:25 AM
Interesting to read everyones comments too, i am sending a mare to twemlows this week for another go at frozen semen, had alot of bad luck last time but i think it was mare just as much as semen.
i think it does help from what i have heard to have a good vet and good semen helps but it wouldnt be available to buy if it wasnt good enough to work. But obviously some is better then others. It has to be a certian % to be sold out.
Interesting to know costs too - i thnk it is a costly experience! but has given breeders the opportunity to use stallions otherwise wouldnt have been avilable so we shouldnt complain too much!
Natural does seem to be less and less used these days which is a shame, i know what i would choose if it was an option to me!
Keep experiences coming, i am learning allot! |
| Pashon2001 |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 11:28:06 AM
We are starting him friday, so fingers crossed!!! I don't even think about fillies, given up on that idea. |
| linda |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 9:11:54 PM
Thanks Donna,
Let me know as soon as Vervencio is happy with being collected from,
Faith was in season last week, so hope to catch her on the next cycle,
Hope you get a filly this year, Its about time
Lx
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| Pashon2001 |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 8:50:25 PM
Good Luck Linda!! I'll be starting breeding next week, as soon as the ladies oblige lol! Got three more due during the course of April, enough to keep me busy! |
| linda |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 7:23:17 PM
We have four mares being scanned on Wednesday, three are by natural breeding's and one by AI,
I would love to think they will all be in, but will let you know!
Lx |
| Bluebell Arabians |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 7:04:08 PM
I used frozen semen 5 times (4 different stallions) and got 5 foals as a result. All took at first try |
| LesleyA |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 8:30:03 PM
Thank you to everyone who has posted with their experiences. I have to say there does seem to be more negative results than positive but I can only try and like Bab's says "Only fools breed horses".... and I'm definitely a fool!! |
| amy_southworth |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 8:15:35 PM
Originally posted by BabsR
"Only fools breed horses for wise men to ride"
Now that is a great and so so true saying BabsR......!!!
We've had our fair share of bad luck with both chilled and frozen semen...! During 2009 we had such a bad year for it that broken record doesn't half describe!
We wasted that much money, with six negative scans, on 2 different mares, that it was heartbreaking! And I just couldnt help but bore everyone to death with how p**sed off I was!
But thankfully I have to say AI redeemed itself considerably last year... with two mares in foal first time! Who knows why the sudden change of luck!
Hang on... Saying that we still endured 4 negative scans last year too.... OH... maybe it didnt redeem itself that much... funny how you try to forget the bad!!
Delyth, what an exciting week ahead for you next week!!
Looking forward to seeing your Bedawi babies very much!
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| Delyth |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 6:44:59 PM
Just three Bedawi's and one Don Giovanni due......all next week !! |
| Pashon2001 |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 6:15:35 PM
I think we'd all agree Delyth that the real thing is best!! Looking forward to my Bedawi baby. How many you got coming??? |
| Delyth |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 6:10:32 PM
Who am I kidding - I hate chilled semen too hence I went and bought Bedawi.......you can't beat the real thing  lol |
| BabsR |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 5:33:36 PM
I can assure you that is fact. Have the documentation to prove it! Long standing frozen semen...mare only at semination centre 2-days..only one straw used...and pregnant!!
Have used chilled semen.....OH went personally to the stud to collect....mare inseminated at our own
premises within hours of the collection, ovulated next day..... result...not in foal
Conclusion.....you pays your money and you takes your chance. "Only fools breed horses for wise men to ride" springs to mind but I am too old now to stop being a fool!!
Whatever you decide Lesley hope it all works out and your lovely mare produced you a cracking foal in 2012
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
| Delyth |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 4:36:22 PM
AI with frozen semen.....groan !! I'm with Donna on this one it is an expensive pain in the ass !! It'd have to be one hell of a horse which was a realone off/priviledge to use to make me even contemplate it again. Chilled semen on the otherhand is fine !! |
| BabsR |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 3:16:28 PM
Hi Lesley....We have used frozen semen once only. Insisted with the Vet we only wanted to leave our Mare with them for a couple of days as having our own stallions, had a good idea, when she would most likely be ready for insemination.
Took her on the Friday...was inseminated Saturday A.M had ovulated by that evening, so we brought her home.
Held to a single insemination and the semen had been frozen some considerable years, the stallion having left this Country. (AHS Premium Anglo Stallion, Tunes Of Glory, Int. FEI*** Eventer) We had
a filly foal result.....so for us Frozen Semen worked
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk
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| nn |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 2:11:43 PM
I have just sent Bella to Twemlows to be put back in foal to Fairlyn Gemini.
We used are own vets last year and she didnt hold :(
So this year i decided to send her in, as in the long run getting her in foal is important.
She held first time to frozen and then held again to frozen on her foaling heat.So last year after four foals on the trot we think she want some time off LOL
If the semen is good and the vet putting it in knows what they are doing then no reason for the mare to not take first time.
Nicky |
| LesleyA |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 10:10:03 AM
Thanks for that Linda. I know it's going to work out so much more expensive but hopefully will be worth it in the end. Good luck with WH Justice x |
| linda |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 07:51:47 AM
Lesley that is a fair price!
The veterinary clinic near us charges £350.00 + vat per cycle + an in foal fee of £100.00 + any sedation's etc that are needed,
Then there is the shipment costs, container hire, health certificate on top of this,
I am just waiting for my frozen semen shipment from WH Justice,
It really is a costly game!
frozen has not been susuccessful for us to date but there is no longer chilled semen available so I have no choice,
Lx |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 11:14:01 PM
Haven't made the decision yet; the semen is expensive, shipping costs from Germany etc. etc. Got to work out if I can afford it!!!!
Barbara |
| LesleyA |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 10:14:03 PM
Good luck Barbara at least you have peace of mind the stallion you want to use has viable semen. |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 10:07:47 PM
It is important that the mares get in foal not just the quality of the semen. However, there always has to be the first mares to see if the semen is viable after freezing!
I am considering frozen semen for the first time this year but the stallion freezes well and has had foals from his frozen semen.
Barbara |
| LesleyA |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 7:42:58 PM
Unfortunately the stallion was gelded last year so only available by frozen semen. I got the most beautiful filly by him so keen to repeat the breeding but beginning to think at what expense! Will let you know how we get on. |
