MVH - Equine Semen Freezing Service

Equine semen freezing is an exciting innovation that is the 'way of the future' in equine reproduction.

MVH has frozen semen very successfully for many years with various breeds of stallions, from some of the top warmblood horses to elite stock horses and quarter horses. Please do not hesitate to ask us or any of our clients about their experience.

The procedure is not inexpensive but is advantageous for the reasons outlined below. Some of the benefits and precautions of freezing semen are demonstrated below.

Please consider these advantages of freezing semen from your stallion:

• Maintenance of blood lines after the demise, medical castration, sub-fertility or infertility of a valuable stallion, as frozen semen can be stored indefinitely,
• A stallion competing does not have to interrupt his training or competition schedule for breeding purposes once his semen has been frozen and stored. If you do not wish to have outside mares visiting and the inherent risks of breeding mares themselves you can still stand your stallion at stud,
• Clients have access to a stallion which may otherwise be out of the question to breed to for logistical (transport, timing) reasons,
• A stallion that has physical difficulty serving naturally due to injury will often still be capable of artificial collection and hence be able to breed a normal number (or even more) mares,
• Stallion injury protection: the stallion is not in contact with the mares and is safe from injuries associated with natural service, is not subjected to any sexually transmitted diseases and is not exposed to the risks associated with interstate or international travel.

Conversely, there are some precautions that need to be noted:

• Expense, the fees involved for semen test freezing, semen freezing, preparation of straws and semen storage can amount to a considerable sum of money. Please contact one of our equine veterinarians to discuss the program.
• Some stallions do not freeze very predictably, some very poorly and others may not freeze at all. A test freeze is used to assess how well your stallion's semen will freeze.

Semen Freezing - Some Practical Aspects

Your stallion will require semen collection with an Artificial Vagina (AV). The stallion may not be accustomed to this technique of semen collection and, therefore, may require practice. Stallions vary in their response to an AV, some are fantastic from the start but others can take some time to adjust.

Note that semen collection by Artificial Vagina may actually improve a stallion's semen quality.

An insemination dose of semen should contain 500,000,000 live, progressively motile sperm cells, post thaw. As a normal ejaculate contains a far larger number of sperm cells the number of straws that can be obtained and frozen from a single ejaculate is often around 30 to 40 straws.

Optimally, we attempt to concentrate semen into a minimal number of straws per insemination dose for the mare. Depending on the semen quality, anywhere from three to eight straws may be required per insemination dose. Four to six insemination doses per collection can be expected under normal circumstances.

Test freezes are required in order to determine your stallion's individual freezing and thawing technique. The number of test freezes required can vary from one to four. If the test freeze is successful it will then be stored and used.

Once a protocol has been established for your stallion and an initial freeze has been performed, a mare should be test-bred to ensure the fertility of the semen frozen. Although this is not an absolute requirement, it is good way to ensure peace of mind for following breedings.

If semen is being frozen for the international market a strict protocol dictated by the importing country and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) must be adhered to without question and under the direct supervision of certified individuals. MVH is a registered practice with AQIS for international equine semen protocols.

Semen Freezing Schedule

During the semen collection processes stallion housing, care and maintenance is provided at “Bengalla Stud”. This facility is managed by Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, a stud manager of excellent repute with over 25 years experience. The facility located in Muswellbrook close to the surgery. Mr Fitzgerald handles all the stallions for semen collection for us and has assited us with providing excellent results.

Bengalla Stud is a thoroughbred stud complete with excellent facilities including individual stallion paddocks, stables, breeding shed and working facilities. For additional information pertaining to rates, protocol and management please give Michael a call on 0428-429-614 or (02) 6543-4741.

Stage 1: The Test Freeze

This freeze is used to establish an individualized freeze and thaw protocol. Generally, anywhere from one to four tests may be required. Of course the first successful test freeze can be kept and stored/used, in which case the per straw fees will apply.

Stage 2: Further Collection & Freezing for Storage or Use

Collection and straw fees apply and there is a minimum number 20 straws per collection.

Generally, one can expect about 10 - 40 straws per collection. Approximately 5 - 6 straws are required per insemination dose. Some stallions' semen will concentrate better, therefore, fewer straws per collection can be frozen and fewer straws are required for an insemination dose. However, the number of insemination doses per collection will often be the same.

Stage 3: Optional

Optional services that we can provide include:

• Semen storage,
• Test Mare Insemination,

  Inseminating a mare with the frozen semen from your stallion is not essential but is recommended as it is a good advertisement, as well as offering peace of mind. The only true test of semen fertility is a pregnant mare.

• Frozen semen shipment,

  Transport fees will be charged to the client directly from the transport company. As we are such frequent users of the transport services we are familiar with the best rates and services available. Organization of the transport is part of the handling fee, you just need to let us know where you want it to go and when.
  We use a dry shipper for semen transport, which will be handled by most carriers at a reduced freight cost. This container is expensive! We allow its use over a specified time, depending on destination, at no charge. However, if the container is not promptly returned a daily late fee is charged to the owner of the semen.

International Protocol pricing is available on request.