Using frozen semen - advice please

[Marigold4]

Genetic testing on mare done - all clear
pre-breeding tests (bloods, internal exam and scan) done - all good

Now just to make the final choice of stallion.

I plan to use AI and the mare is to stay at home for the insemination. I am set on this as she is unlikely to settle well at repro vet.

I had been planning to use chilled semen as in my set up (at home), the process is less time critical and involves fewer vet visits.

Is frozen out of the question though? The reason I ask is that all my first choice stallions are frozen only (because competing), the stallions offering chilled have excellent pedigrees and good progeny, but have not much of a competition track record and this is true of their offspring too.

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t use frozen from home.
Timing is everything and you need to scan regularly and time the insemination.

 

[Cortez]

Do you have a good reproductive vet who is experienced with frozen semen insemination?

 

[Marigold4]

Do you have a good reproductive vet who is experienced with frozen semen insemination?

Yes, vet is very experienced in this. He did raise frozen as an option, but I dismissed it earlier. Now I'm thinking it's only worth breeding from the best possible stallion - it might be worth the extra hassle/expense to get a better foal that will be more marketable should I need to sell? I'm prepared to be philosophical if she doesn't take. I guess the question is about what chance of success with her being at home, but experienced vet involved. I will phone him on Monday, but it would be useful to hear others' views before I throw my money away!

 

[Cortez]

Yes, vet is very experienced in this. He did raise frozen as an option, but I dismissed it earlier. Now I'm thinking it's only worth breeding from the best possible stallion - it might be worth the extra hassle/expense to get a better foal that will be more marketable should I need to sell? I'm prepared to be philosophical if she doesn't take.

I have both provided frozen (and chilled) semen and used it on my own mares. As long as your vet knows what he/she is doing then you have a good chance of getting a live foal.

 

[ihatework]

Using frozen has a slightly lower % success rate than fresh/chilled but if mare is at stud that consideration is minimal.

What you need to factor in is home visits for more frequent scanning and potentially out of hours scans/insemination too. If for some reason the vet can’t get there when needed you will lower the chance of success for that cycle. You can do it, you might be successful first go, but I do think there is a higher chance of spending ££ on more cycles if doing it at home

 

[sallyf]

Using frozen has a slightly lower % success rate than fresh/chilled but if mare is at stud that consideration is minimal.

What you need to factor in is home visits for more frequent scanning and potentially out of hours scans/insemination too. If for some reason the vet can’t get there when needed you will lower the chance of success for that cycle. You can do it, you might be successful first go, but I do think there is a higher chance of spending ££ on more cycles if doing it at home

Spot on.

 

[Marigold4]

Spot on.

Thank you. That's very useful to know. I will speak to the vet on Monday and see what he thinks about how busy/available he may be.

 

[TheMule]

It really depends on the experience, willingness and flexibility of your vet. You need to trust them to predict the timing of ovulation within a pretty narrow range and to come and inseminate her within 6 hours (the closer the better) to that time.
It's also a bit harder to handle frozen semen so they'll need to carry microscope with heated stage and waterbath/ other appropriate method of warming the semen with them. If you could drop her at the vets for a couple of nights it would make it much simpler

 

[tda]

I'm doing AI with one of my mares this year, it is frozen and after a chat to my vet this week she will be going to their place for the insemination, for all the reasons mentioned above.
I'm not overly happy about her having to go there, and know it might lower her chances of taking slightly thru stress, but she will not stand for natural cover and my stallion choice is frozen only

 

[ycbm]

Using frozen has a slightly lower % success rate than fresh/chilled but if mare is at stud that consideration is minimal.

What you need to factor in is home visits for more frequent scanning and potentially out of hours scans/insemination too. If for some reason the vet can’t get there when needed you will lower the chance of success for that cycle. You can do it, you might be successful first go, but I do think there is a higher chance of spending ££ on more cycles if doing it at home

Regarding the extra cost, some vets now have a fixed fee for the whole process up to safely in foal mare, no twins scan/pinch out twin.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks, everyone, but I'm going to stick to the original plan of using chilled. You've talked me out of the using frozen mad moment. No point in making life difficult for me or the mare. She really would get her knickers in a twist at the vets' and frozen at home too complicated.

There's a nice younger stallion I'll probably use who has a fab temperament, turns his hoof to anything, events successfully and training at advanced med dressage. Super movement and on springs when jumping. Only one offspring on the ground but filly is very nice and similar breeding to what I'm planning. Other chilled stallions choices don't do much - just trot around stallion parades looking pretty - but better known.

 

[Marigold4]

It really depends on the experience, willingness and flexibility of your vet. You need to trust them to predict the timing of ovulation within a pretty narrow range and to come and inseminate her within 6 hours (the closer the better) to that time.
It's also a bit harder to handle frozen semen so they'll need to carry microscope with heated stage and waterbath/ other appropriate method of warming the semen with them. If you could drop her at the vets for a couple of nights it would make it much simpler

Thanks, Mule. It all sounds too complicated. This my first foal - so I'm not going to be much help in judging timing - and I work, so may not be around the exact moment when needed. I'll stick with chilled.

 

[TheMule]

Thanks, everyone, but I'm going to stick to the original plan of using chilled. You've talked me out of the using frozen mad moment. No point in making life difficult for me or the mare. She really would get her knickers in a twist at the vets' and frozen at home too complicated.

There's a nice younger stallion I'll probably use who has a fab temperament, turns his hoof to anything, events successfully and training at advanced med dressage. Super movement and on springs when jumping. Only one offspring on the ground but filly is very nice and similar breeding to what I'm planning. Other chilled stallions choices don't do much - just trot around stallion parades looking pretty - but better known.

Exciting! Who have you chosen?

 

[Marigold4]

Exciting! Who have you chosen?

Well I'm looking at Farleaze Lord Prenwyn. He's SPSS graded. Want to breed an allrounder with some pizzazz but not silly, 15 hh suitable for a small adult like me. He is only 14.1, my mare is 15 hh but her sire Royaldik is 16.2. Both previous offspring made 15 hh. Lots of pics and videos on Farleaze Lord Prenwyn FB page - some nice ones from yesterday - if you want to have a look and let me know your thoughts. I think he's a dude!

 

[TheMule]

He's a nice pony and you can't go wrong with that breeding. Good luck!

 

[ihatework]

Regarding the extra cost, some vets now have a fixed fee for the whole process up to safely in foal mare, no twins scan/pinch out twin.

They have a fixed fee per cycle, or per 3 cycles - excluding call out. I doubt you would find a vet that did a frozen home package for a successful embryo, but happy to be proven wrong.

 

[Marigold4]

They have a fixed fee per cycle, or per 3 cycles - excluding call out. I doubt you would find a vet that did a frozen home package for a successful embryo, but happy to be proven wrong.

Not planning embryo transfer though??

 

[milliepops]

Not planning embryo transfer though??

you still need a successful embryo in a normal pregnancy though what IHW means is you are unlikely to get a package for a successful pregnancy in the same way that you can do if you take the mare to the clinic and board there for a few days.

 

[ihatework]

Not planning embryo transfer though??

Thats not for embryo transfer.
A cycle means working up the ovulation, inseminating and confirming the pregnancy.

 

[ycbm]

They have a fixed fee per cycle, or per 3 cycles - excluding call out. I doubt you would find a vet that did a frozen home package for a successful embryo, but happy to be proven wrong.

Nobody guarantees a successful embryo, but there are vets who cap the potential total cost of trying to get one.
.

 

[ihatework]

Nobody guarantees a successful embryo, but there are vets who cap the potential total cost of trying to get one.
.

Thank you for educating me on that ?

 

[Marigold4]

you still need a successful embryo in a normal pregnancy though what IHW means is you are unlikely to get a package for a successful pregnancy in the same way that you can do if you take the mare to the clinic and board there for a few days.

Aha!

 

[Marigold4]

Thats not for embryo transfer.
A cycle means working up the ovulation, inseminating and confirming the pregnancy.

I see. Sorry - silly me.