costing of AI (realistic one please)

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huskimo12

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I have seen a few stallions that either only do A.I or that are too far away to send my mare and that do do AI.

I have been given conflicting info on cost and viability of usingn AI so.........

Can anyone give me a realistic costing of AI or point me in the right direction to find out myself? so that i can decide whether it is practical for me to consider these stallions.

Also what would experienced breeders say about using AI over covering naturally?

Sorry for all the questions I am a bit over excited and over protective about putting my mare in foal
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Would you be keeping her at home - or sending her to your nearest AI centre? That will influence the cost; while doing it all at home might seem attractive it can work out VERY expensive for the one mare owner (and that's assuming your own vet is reasonably competent at equine repro work.)

On top of the stud fee, you have collection and transport of semen on the stallion side. If the mare is AI'd at home, there may be up to 6 or 7 vet visits for scanning and AI'ing. AI Centres will charge keep for while your mare is there and probably an in-foal fee - but will probably offer a 'vet package' so you can budget more easily. Have a look at Twemlow's charges - they're not cheap but very good (if close enough to you) but there are others, http://www.twemlows.co.uk/
 
Luckily i live a 10min hack from my AI centre/vets. I hacked Bloss down there the day she was due to be AI'd. She stayed there for 4nights and 4days and i hacked her back. I provided my own haylage and feed (as i wanted to check her daily anyways). She took first time which was also lucky - it cost me £650 including all pre-insemination tests, all scans during, the PG injection (as she was brought into season), and all the scans afterwards.

(Obviously that dosent include the stallion fee!!)
 
This was my bill for AI (all inclusive):

£450 stud fee
£70 semen shipment
£500 grass livery at vets and all veterinary work while she was there for one week to include everything ie scans (mare had a lot of fluid problems so including all wash outs etc) & scan once she came home.
 
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AI Centres will charge keep for while your mare is there and probably an in-foal fee - but will probably offer a 'vet package' so you can budget more easily. Have a look at Twemlow's charges - they're not cheap but very good (if close enough to you) but there are others, http://www.twemlows.co.uk/

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I find the fact of having to pay a fee if your mare gets in foal completely ludicrous and money grabbing (but I know them so it doesn't surprise me!
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) You don't find normal studs (other than AI centres I mean whether natural or AI covered) charging you extra if they get your mare in foal; surely that should be part of the package of the stud fee that you will already have paid for. That is a total rip off IMO because it's not just a token £25 either, more like £135! Money grabbing leeches.
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I have been given conflicting info on cost and viability of usingn AI so.........

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Thats' because the industry is so variable.
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Honestly, if its your first time breeding my advice would be to find an equine reproduction facility or stud that specialises in AI that offers a fixed rate package.

Some will charge a fixed rate per cycle, some will charge a fixed rate including three cycles plus extras.

The most competative I have heard of so far is a fixed price of 300 plus vat for three cycles, plus extras such as wash outs and drugs but usually always included prostoglandin or ovuplant. If the mare is in foal first time you still have to pay the fixed rate.

The second rate is often anywhere between 150 - 300 plus vat per cycle again no wash outs are included and prices may vary between fresh chilled or frozen.

If you adamently do not wish to send your mare away and want your own vet carry out the breeding be sure that he gives you a detailed quote of potential costs, if you don't you could find your self paying well over 1000 pounds.

Always ask to see a contract outlining costs regardless of which route you decide to take and ask for a written quotation. The veterinary professional code of conduct stipulates that vets must provide clients with an estimate of costs prior to comencing treatment and never disillusion their clients. This should include a minimum and maximum figure to be arranged with his client. If they can't or wont, look elsewhere. If the fees are likely to escalate beyond the ceiling price quoted, he must advise you that this is going to happen prior to carrying out further treatment and have your permission to do so.

Do your homework and speak to as many AI centres, Studs, local vets etc as you can before commiting. Find out how much experience they have, and seek recomendations from freinds, breeders etc.

The more information you have the less likely you are to get caught out.
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http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=89721&int1stParentNodeID=89642
 
Clients of ours have used a very good stud in Wales with excellent results.

http://www.talgrwnstud.co.uk/fees.html

It's run by a vet & his wife & they will even drive to the TNT depot to collected imported semen!!

They have per cycle chilled & frozen AI packages which include 1 weeks livery.

Chilled 1st cycle price £175 + VAT (includes all scans & routine drugs)
Chilled 2nd Cycle (if required) - £110 + VAT

Fees for AI include 1 weeks keep, routine drugs and U/S scans
Frozen 1st Cycle - £225 + VAT
Frozen 2nd Cycle (if required) - £125 + VAT

BEVA also have a list of AI vets http://www.beva.org.uk/node/68 - most who do regular AI will do a per cycle package price.
 
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I find the fact of having to pay a fee if your mare gets in foal completely ludicrous and money grabbing (but I know them so it doesn't surprise me!
frown.gif
) You don't find normal studs (other than AI centres I mean whether natural or AI covered) charging you extra if they get your mare in foal; surely that should be part of the package of the stud fee that you will already have paid for. That is a total rip off IMO because it's not just a token £25 either, more like £135! Money grabbing leeches.
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I know them too - and have the greatest respect for the very profesional service they offer! They don't charge the in-foal fee for their own stallions - only when you're using other stallions (where the owner gets the stud fee.). And if you knew just how much time and effort goes into getting a mare in foal!!!! And they almost always do - even the serious 'problem' mares.
 
The vets we've used sound far more in line with the ones sambertino has mentioned. Maybe its because we've always had a great working relationship with our vets, who knows. We AI at home with no problems and I budget £300 a mare for vets fees given that some will be cheaper if they play ball and some may take more than one attempt or need flushing etc.
 
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I find the fact of having to pay a fee if your mare gets in foal completely ludicrous and money grabbing (but I know them so it doesn't surprise me!
frown.gif
) You don't find normal studs (other than AI centres I mean whether natural or AI covered) charging you extra if they get your mare in foal; surely that should be part of the package of the stud fee that you will already have paid for. That is a total rip off IMO because it's not just a token £25 either, more like £135! Money grabbing leeches.
mad.gif


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I know them too - and have the greatest respect for the very profesional service they offer! They don't charge the in-foal fee for their own stallions - only when you're using other stallions (where the owner gets the stud fee.). And if you knew just how much time and effort goes into getting a mare in foal!!!! And they almost always do - even the serious 'problem' mares.

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I'm not disputing their professionalism, I've been there too many times not to (and well remember when Tullis first started, that everyone said it would never work - they have to eat their words now, it's like a conveyor belt there sometimes!) but I still think it is a money grabbing opportunity when they are top whack with their other charges too plus with VAT on top; it can make the AI charges incredibly dear for mare owners; particularly those that because of distance, their mares have to stay there. Sometimes they can work out more than the stud fee itself even if you are using stallions at the upper end of the market. Nobody minds someone making a profit and you expect charges to be sufficient so they can, but that is gilding the lily I feel. Even if they don't charge an 'in foal' fee for their own stallions (do they actually have any of their own now, they were going to stop that side?) they are still receiving a stud fee for it so why be so greedy?
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Even if they don't charge an 'in foal' fee for their own stallions (do they actually have any of their own now, they were going to stop that side?) they are still receiving a stud fee for it so why be so greedy?
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The stallion owner gets the stud fee! Obviously if the stallions are actually standing at Twemlows they'll be paying livery charges but in many cases, the semen arrives with a courier, and the in-foal fee covers the costs of handling the mare and doing everything necessary to get her safely in foal. The costs associated with a large establishment like Twemlows are astronomical. Many smaller studs 'subsidise' mare owners - I know I do! But I'm fortunate enough to have a well paid husband so I don't HAVE to make a profit (hell, breaking even would be nice!)
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Ive done 2 lots of AI, one with fresh and one with chilled

Both times I took my mare to the vets (Willesley), first time she was taken too and from the vets 5 times in total, the stallion was on site so I paid for no courier. I also paid for the package, cue 1 mare in foal for a grand sum of £350

Second time round was chilled and stallion was at twemlows, got charged for semen collection, courier, I then took the mare to the same vets and again paid the package. She had to stay this time as we missed a cycle, but I think my entire fee was around £450 this time. I didnt have to pay the in-foal fee, and had she gone to Twemlows, I would have, so i was a little confused about that but didnt mention it!!

Both times she took at the first attempt, so I have been very very lucky! I know of others who have really struggled, one had a £4500 bill and still no mare in foal!!
 
We seem to have been very fortunate, reading some of the experiences others have had. Last year we took our mare to the local vet school's resident reproduction expert for a quick scan and then back through again to be AI'd with fresh semen. She stayed in for 36 hours, came home and was scanned in foal at 17 days and then once again. Vet school charged something like £200 plus vat and my vet charged around £70 each for the scans. Semen was very little to travel from one end of the country to the other and Alvescot Stud couldn't have been more helpful.

All in it was about £400 but we were lucky that our 16yo maiden mare took first time by AI to a 35yo stallion!
 
Thanks fro info guys By the sound sof it it isnt too expensive if you know your mar eis likely to catch in first 3 cycles so as I am planning to put her back in foal I may try her naturally this time and then if she takes quickly maybe try AI for one of the stallions that only do AI next time.

Am I getting the right end of the stick here?

They costs sound about the same if the mare takes quickly AI as her going to be covered am i in the right area.

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help
 
i sent my mare to an ai centre and they did a set package for 3 cycles including any induc ing injections and scans upto 40days it was £370.mare took first time so prob would have been cheaper to pay for everything individually but it was her first foal and she was 16 so decided to go for a package in case things took longer.
 
Huskimo i would try and get a package whether she was AI'd or natural, when I worked it out I was much better off paying it that way. It would have cost me about £50 less for one cycle doing it on a cost by cost basis compared to paying the package.

I felt that the package gave me peace of mind, it was my mares first foal and she was 14 when put in foal, so I wasnt sure how fertile she would be etc. It was nice to know that I had a few attempts at a set costs, without it all spiralling out of control
 
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Gosh it cost me nothing like £650! It was with regret that I did not go the AI route in the 1st place. But hindsight is a wonderful thing!

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I was quoted £500 as a package but a friends mare went to the vets and stayed for four days, scanned a few times, inseminated e.t.c £100.00
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Oh and he had a filly this summer!
 
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Thanks fro info guys By the sound sof it it isnt too expensive if you know your mar eis likely to catch in first 3 cycles so as I am planning to put her back in foal I may try her naturally this time and then if she takes quickly maybe try AI for one of the stallions that only do AI next time.

Am I getting the right end of the stick here?

They costs sound about the same if the mare takes quickly AI as her going to be covered am i in the right area.

confused.gif

help

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Yes, but I'm not sure why you think you should you have her covered naturally this time? Why not go straight for the AI option? You will have a much wider choice of stallions this way!
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I tried my Trakehner mare to a Trakehner stallion (standing in Germany) last year. Apart from the fact I had to have three batches of chilled semen sent from Germany, because;

a) 1 batch - Edinburgh Airport really mucked up
b) 2 batch - My "AI VET" only brought a 1ml syringe???
c) 3 batch TNT were over a day late....dead sperm basically.

Overall, that one failed attempt cost me over £2400. The next year (2007) a guy called Ben Wentink (previously at Ingilston Stud & Balcormo Stud - both Scotland) started up an AI business where I keep my mare in livery.

No drugs, (Regumate etc) no hassle - first time, she took, AND totally unstressed. I paid the stud fee for Marlon (KWPN & ZStud), and for this guys expertise. £74 for the EBVC & scans. Overall - I think anyone who wants to breed should find trustworthy people to put your mare's chances to.

Dont rely on vets to do stud work or insemination, find a specialist. Sorry - but thats my view.

Scotia
 
Obviously every stud is different but in our case we charge the individual stud fee and a £95 collection/postage fee ( this includes the 'hire' of the transportation container).
So eg on a £300 stud fee you are talking £395 for A.I.

In the event of a 2nd or 3rd cycle, we do charge a small postage fee which is extra to the initial fee.

We have two trained A.I.technicians and we also accept external mares for insemination by outside stallions.Our vet visits more or less daily during the season so this reduces costs for visiting mare owners.

I have to agree with Janet George 100% regarding the staff at Twemlows - excellent.
 
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