Stud questions - help please!

[juliehannah58]

My mare is going to a local stud (luckily for me they are one of the best in the country) in Feb / March time next year to be inseminated with semen from the stallion of my choice (not resident at this particular stud, they are just getting her in foal for me). Their keep fees seem really expensive to me but as I have very limited experience of it all I wanted to ask you knowledgeable lot!

Its £12.50 for grass keep but as it will be so early and my mare is a spoilt wimp she will need a stable so it will be £16.50 a day. Is this normal?

Also, I know it's probably impossible to answer, but how long roughly should I expect her to have to stay for? I am trying to work out how much it's likey to cost me and it's terrifying!

My vets have offered me a package which would allow me to keep her at home (ideal) BUT although I'm sure they'll do an excellent job I really want her in the hands of professionals. Has anyone kept there mare at home to be AI'ed??

Any info or advice appreciated!

 

[juliehannah58]

Opps, how did it get in this forum!?

Oh well I might get some answers in here?!

 

[samp]

AI is not always 100% reliable, our vets always test the semen quality first. If you get several straws the vets can try several times. My YO mare went to stud several times and would never take, just got worked up. She was more relaxed at home and inseminated there and she conceived

 

[juliehannah58]

Thats my main concern, she can be a bit stressy. Although she has been to stud twice before and was covered naturally where she conceived first time both times. She also didn't used to travel very well, although she is much better now.

i am using Fresh semen and have 3 lots, I think Fresh is much more fertile than frozen or chilled so fingers crossed!

 

[AmyMay]

Amymay was at stud earlier this year - and the keep rates were £4 per day on grass. This would have gone up to around £10.00 a day if she had required stabling.

Most of the broodmares on my yard get AI'd at home - however we have an extremely experienced equine vet, who is very knowledgable about breeding and AI'ing etc. We initially went down that route with Amy with no luck - hence her going away to stud for natural covering.

I have to say that if I decide to put her back in foal next year after this one is born then I wouldn't hesitate to send her back to stud. She was wonderfully looked after, and I didn't find the costs unreasonable.

 

[juliehannah58]

Thanks for that AM, how long was she at stud for?

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for that AM, how long was she at stud for

[/ QUOTE ]

God it seemed like forever, but was for about 8 weeks in total.

 

[Tia]

I have to say that this price was the usual price for the studs around where I lived. Sorry

. I know it does seem awfully expensive but what can you do? Perhaps use another stud?

 

[juliehannah58]

I know it is sooo expensive. If she needs 8 weeks then I'm looking at over £1000!! Just on keep! I will need a rethink as this is just too much when I have my own farm to keep paying for at home!

Argh, questions questions questions! I will work it out some how!

 

[Tia]

Will your vet not do AI at home? Then you could keep the mare at home and not have to pay stud keep??

 

[juliehannah58]

They will and have offered me a package deal (no hidden extras!) but other people more experienced in breeding than me have suggested this is not the best route and it would be better to have a vet at a professional stud on site etc etc.

This is giving me brain ache now! The absolute last thing I want is all that money and time and no foalie, hmmm.....

 

[Tia]

LMAO!!! Whatwith you having to dance back and forth for Lounge to here.......that's enough to get you confused!

I've answered on the other thread so will let this one become obsolete.

 

[louismacshoe]

I had three mares AI'd whilst staying at home, using a fixed price insemination package. Two with frozen semen (more tricky) and one with chilled semen. The two with frozen semen took first time, and the one with chilled semen was inseminated twice before she conceived. Personally I prefer my mares to stay at home (they all had foals at foot as well). I do have an excellent vet qualified in stud work, and he is also very interested in the breeding side of things, having said that he did say that he had problems getting other peoples mares in foal using AI in that particular year. There are such a large number of factors to take into account, such as mares fertility/age/semen quality etc. but at the end of the day it is a matter of personal choice and finding a vet who gets the required results. Anyway whatever you choose hope everything goes smoothly, and if you want any further info. please pm me.