Freezing sperm

[nat88]

Can anyone out there answer a question for me? Is it possible to geld a stallion but retain the sperm from the testical’s to freeze? If anyone knows, do you also know who could do it (vet obviously!!) and if there are companies that can store the sperm, (not wanted in the freezer at home, potential for error bit too risky!)

I had a very random conversation about this and just dont know the answer!!

 

[mealrigghallstud]

You wouldn't be able to take tadpoles directly from testicles that have been removed as they would not be in the fluid that they are suspended in when a stallion ejaculates so would not survive!!
You would actually need to collect the semen from the stallion before gelding by either sending to an AI centre or getting someone out to a stud farm to do it either using a jump mare or a dummy. It then has to be suspended in a fluid that helps protect it during the freezing process which is done in liquid nitrogen - so far colder than a household freezer!!! If done in a normal freezer the cells would burst as the water in them expands.
You need a qualified person to do the whole process as it can be a faff finding a liquid that works for a stallion as all are different - I think there are about 20 different kinds to choose from - basically which ever allows the semen to be frozen and thawed with the least damage to the tadpoles!!! Also semen has to be of a certain quality so they would do a sperm count first and foremost to see if it is worth doing! Not all stallions semen freezes and it is not cheap to do it either - we got tadpoles collected off our stallion Wessel - and after all the livery costs at the AI centre, health checks and collection it was nearly £6000 for 100 straws - he was there a month and then you have to pay yearly for them to store the tadpoles for as long as you want them kept. I would recommend Twemlows - they are a very good AI centre and are very experienced at what they do.

 

[nat88]

Thank you for your advise, I didnt know any of that!!! Is it Twemlows Hall stud in Shropshire that do this?

 

[Ezme]

Wow black horses, I've seen your stud online! So nice to see propper friesians with propper legs and necks! When I have the money I'm definatly coming to you!

 

[mealrigghallstud]

Thanks Ezme! Glad you like our GG's - unfortunately the FPS don't and want skinny tubey horses that are useless for anything, plus we are on their black list as we have put on our site all the genetic conditions friesians suffer from which are not on any of the friesian websites!!!

We are actually stopping breeding now and just keeping the old fart mares and the stallions - as they are pets anyway - as we are fed up with the whole friesian thing - the breed is genetically doomed with all the serious life threatening problems they get which are getting worse and no-one seems to care or be doing anything as they are more concerned how a horse looks, trots and is black than wether it will drop dead at any moment because of an inherited genetic disorder - they spend all the money they get on lunch meetings and flowers instead of researching the problems!!! - Ooooh I really shouldn't post after a glass of wine!!!!

 

[mealrigghallstud]

Forgot to put to original poster - yes it is Twemlows in Shropshire!