AI info please

[huskimo12]

I am new to breeding and intending on puttin gmy mare in foal in the spring can anyone give me the low down on AI. costs, prcedures, success rates?
I am totally new to breeding so all advice would be good

 

[AndyPandy]

Cost can vary - vet packages seem to vary from the low £100s to £300+ depending on when you are.

Most packages include several ultrasound scans to assess where your mare is in terms of her cycle. When the time is right, (generally a couple of days after there is an active follicle of 35mm+ and the follicle begins to soften), semen is artificially inseminated by the vet or AI technician. Estrus (the "fertile" part of the mare's cycle) can be induced using a number of drugs, which make it far easier to get the mare pregnant. Also, some post-insemination clearance treatments should be used (oxytocin or similar) with possible antibiotic washouts depending on your mare's age.

Success rates are excellent, when the AI is performed by experienced vets and/or technicians. In a good AI programme (and when environmental factors are not causing problems - Anastasia) then success rates should be upward of 85-90% using fresh/chilled semen.

Frozen semen requires more management, with more regular scans, and preferably deep uterine insemination using rectal palpation to guide the catheter deep into the uterine horn. It depends what stallion you are using, and what is available.

Give us more info, and someone will be able to give more specific advice dependant on your situation.

Jamie

 

[pinkcatkin]

I AI'd my mare this summer as she was too lame to go to stud. I am new to breeding so it was a real learning curve for me.

My mare is like clockwork so it was easy for me to tell vet when she was coming into season. Vet came out and scanned her twice before we ordered the semen which came next morning. Vet then inseminated her and I then had to give her three injections of oxytocin to tighten everything up. 16 days later she was scanned to see if she was in foal and the first time she was not so we did the whole thing again.

It worked second time! We were so excited, including the vet!

I did not have a vet package and vet came out with portable scanner for Rose as I had a terrible back at that time and could not take her to the vets, so it probably cost me much more than it could have. I think it probably cost £550 plus cost of the semen.

Doing it for the first time was interesting, stressful, disappointing and then exciting. My mare is 5 and a half months and I can't wait until next May!

Hope you have as much luck as me. My mare had had two foals as a youngster and she is now 14.

Good luck!

 

[Amelia]

Hi Jamie, I am very interested in your ET package