Breeding with Frozen Semen. Step 1 – understanding the process.
This year I decided to take the plunge and try using frozen semen. My friends here at FHAME and I thought maybe writing about these experiences would be a good way to share info with others as part of our education outreach. Others at FHAME are trying to breed with frozen semen too, so hopefully there will be comments posted as we all share our experiences.
Ok, for me, Step 0 was selecting the stallions to use. That is a whole other discussion, and one I want to add to this section before too long. But when just talking about frozen semen, for me Step 1 was figuring out this strange new world.
If you want frozen semen from the Netherlands, you can buy it from brokers in the US (and there are a number of good brokers) or you can try to import it yourself. Yes, the cost for “a breeding” is cheaper if you buy it yourself, but the hassle, confusion and paperwork to get everything ordered and through customs make the extra fees requested by a broker seem miniscule.
So, how much does it cost to breed with frozen semen?
You’ll pay a stud fee and you pay shipping/handling charges. Shipping charges, even if shipping from a US broker, are hundreds of dollars. This is primarily because the semen has to be shipped in a special container that has been “charged” with a cooling substance that keeps the semen frozen. You need to pay to have the container charged and you need to insure the [very expensive] container coming and going. Once you have the semen you need to get it to a long term storage facility with your vet or an equine hospital. Again, this is a special facility that is monitored and temperature controlled. Many places will charge a modest “rental” fee to let you store the semen with them. Get a good storage place where you know the facility is monitored and everything is kept frozen. If the semen thaws, it is dead. Period. All your money is right down the drain.
How good is frozen semen?
That depends on the stallion and on the collection/storage company. Many stallions do not have semen that can withstand freezing. So you cannot buy their semen even if you wanted to. The freezing process itself is very hard on the semen and will adversely affect the motility of it. In general, expect your chances of a pregnancy from frozen semen to be about 1/2 that of fresh. I would say the rule of thumb is a 10-30% success rate.
When you buy “a breeding” what do you get?
Well, there really is not a standard. “A breeding” basically means you get enough frozen semen that you can cover a mare during one cycle. How much semen that is depends on the stallion and the protocol used by the stallion owner and the stallion station that does the collection, preparation and freezing. Semen is packaged in “straws” and a group of straws – perhaps 3-5 constitute a “dose”. A dose is used for an insemination. The vet will wish to inseminate as close to ovulation as possible, and will thus try a few times – possibly right before ovulation, possibly right after, etc. So, perhaps a “breeding” is about 3 “doses” and that may translate to perhaps 9-12 “straws”. Again, the exact number of these will vary from stallion to stallion.
And what if you use all the straws and there is no pregnancy?
Basically, you are outta luck. Frozen semen generally (as in, pretty much 100% of the time) has NO live foal guarantee. Don’t feel too bad. It is a chance you take. You gambled, you lost.
And what if you get a pregnancy and still have straws left?
Well, you are one lucky critter. Most stallion owners will let you use the semen later or on another mare BUT you will have to pay another stud fee if there is a pregnancy. This is not always the case (depeds on the stallion owner) but it is typically the case.
How do I improve my chances
- Buy semen from a stallion who seems to have success with his frozen semen
- Buy semen from a knowledgeable broker and/or helpful stallion owner
- If possible, get a “protocol” (tip sheet on how to breed with the semen from that particular stallion) included with the semen
- If possible, get semen that has been tested for quality. There can be “good” batches and “bad” batches where “good” and “bad” may depend not on the stallion that day, but on the freezing process that day. Try to make sure the semen you are getting is “good”
- For heaven’s sake, use a vet who is familiar with inseminating with frozen and who is familiar with inseminating FRIESIANS with frozen. If your vet is not familiar, there are vets out there who are and who are willing to share their knowledge and help your vet. Get the two of them talking.
- Take your horse to a breeding facility where she can be checked every two hours for ovulation. Most country vets do not have the manpower to do this. You may have to take your horse to an equine hospital or breeding clinic. If the insemination doe snot happen close to ovulation (preferable 6 hours or less and the closer the better) the semen will die before it has a chance.
- Know your mare. Know her cycles. And make sure your vet knows what you do.
The next blog entry will be Step 2 – getting the semen to your facility. I’ll talk about what I am going through.
OK everyone – post comments and chime in….
How exciting! Thanks for taking the time to share this with everyone…it IS appreciated! It’ll be my turn to go through the “breeding decisions” in a few years for my girls, so every bit of knowledge shared by other breeders is exciting for me to read and learn. I’m glad I have a few years to learn and study different Stallions before breeding my girls…it’ll go fast and there is ALways something new and valuable to learn.
I would love to know which stallions have been successful for people. We tried Onne last year with no luck. We are trying Doaitsen this year. I’m crossing my fingers.
Lindsey, I have heard of some stallions who really should never have been marketed for frozen semen – they just do not freeze well. Even the ones who do freeze well may have only 30% motility (upon thawing) at best. I know people who have had luck with not only Doaitsen but also Onne, Jerke, and Beart. Tsjalke has not been too good and I am not even sure they sell his frozen semen any more (too bad – he is a great stallion). Charlotte Dumford in Texas has had terrific results with almost every stallion she has tried, as well as terrific results with embryo transfer (another nail biter). She attributes this to her vet – who is a real expert in this field – and to the breeding facility she uses. This year I am going to take the mares to Va Tech’s repro clinic and am talking with the head vet there. He knows Charlotte’s vet and they are going to work together via phone. I have ordered one breeding each for Onne and Beart. Wish me luck.
I am in this very process right now,but also using Frozen semen with Embryo Transfer!
The 3 mares have been on Regu-mate for the past two weeks, have had their 2 shots of Oxytocin, and now will be checked on Monday to see if they are in sync.
I actually ordered my frozen Semen last year,but due to some blips did not receive it until July. So, that is why I am using it this year instead. I definitely recommend getting help with ording the Frozen stuff. It is almost as difficult as getting an actual horse shipped over!
I’ll keep you all informed! Wish me luck!!
Donna
Donna would you be willing to write up what you had to go through in order to get the semen here? I think that would really be enlightening to people. We can make that part of yhte next “Step 2″ post….
I am trying frozen this year too Jeannine. I ordered Harmen. I am nervous and very excited! I’ll be glad to share my experiences with everyone as well. Jeannine – Beart’s semen is great so best of luck with your two breedings! When will you start? I’ll start sometime after the Feathered Horse Classic…yeah, we’re all goign to be biting some nails. Lindsey – I think Doaitsen is good too – best of luck everyone!!!
Yeah Donna – I would really love to hear about how you got the frozen semen over. We were thinking about bringing some home when we go on our trip. Maybe Ill have to try Onne again…it was probably the vet we used. I took Emma to Southern Pines this year…the drive is a pain but worth a frozen baby if it works. Has anyone tried Harmen or Norbert? Any word on whether or not Maurus will have frozen available?
We are in the process of using frozen semen to breed our mare the semen has a amazing motility of 60 to65%. What we have found out is that t does not mean that the sperm will be strong enough to penetrate the egg on frozen semen. We know we have good semen as there are two foals on the ground and two confirmed pregs. We also are finding it is harder to breed a maiden mare with frozen. our vet has tried twice now and will be trying again next wk. We are using Tjimme and Sherri Wilson has been wonderful She has called and talk to our vets enclosed her vets # so our vet can talk to him and also included extra info on frozen from the F.P.S Our Vet has bred many horse’s with frozen of all breeds including Friesians And she is wonderful We highly recommend her to any one in the east TN. area If you want her info e-mail us and we will get it to you .Will let you know how things go Wish us luck Thanks Chris
Hi Chris,
Yes, I can understand the frustration. I have two mares at Va Tech right now. Both experienced broodmares. But their ovulation behavior really differs form one another. One (Cori) seems very sensitive to hormone treatment while the other (Dahlia) does not seem to be impacted at all. It seems when a vet gives deslorein to Cori she ovulates within 12 hours, which blows away what is considered “standard” protocol. So the vet insemination one dose post ovulation and we’ll see how it goes, though chances are not good. Great motiliy at 50% (Beart). Inseminated Dahlia soon after deslorein, and no ovulation – still waiting.
People wonder why Friesian foals re expensive – they should try getting a mare pregnant!
Donna would you be willing to write up what you had to go through in order to get the semen here? I think that would really be enlightening to people. We can make that part of yhte next “Step 2″ post….
Hi Emily. I will try to write up Step 2 today. Keep an eye out! – Jeannine