What is your experience of AI with frozen semen?

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Violetthegrey

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Hi, for those of you breeding this year or who have bred in the last couple of years, what is your experience of using frozen semen?
How many tries did it take before you had any success?
How old and what status was/is your mare?
I'm particularly interested in those who have used frozen from Steeped in Luck but any info is helpful.
My mare is 6 years old, currently barren but has successfully carried a foal before (caught first time with fresh AI).
 
If the semen is good quality (and his will be as it has been frozen by some of the best in the business) and you vet is experienced (as in, breeds 100s of mares a year, not just the odd one here or there), the mare is young and has proven her ability to conceive then you have a very good chance of success across 1 or 2 cycles.
You must scan her every 6 hours around ovulation to time it right and be really on it with a post-insemination protocol, so it's generally easier to send them to stud
 
Thank you, she will be at a very reputable stud for AI, I was just curious really how many mares over the last couple of years caught in the first couple of tries. There is very little consistent information out there on frozen AI success rates. Older research seems to point to 30-50%, but some newer research suggests up to 50-70% depending on the stalion, the mare and the stud/vets.
I would really like to see how this translates into successful breeding for mare owners :)
 
Violetthegrey said:
Thank you, she will be at a very reputable stud for AI, I was just curious really how many mares over the last couple of years caught in the first couple of tries. There is very little consistent information out there on frozen AI success rates. Older research seems to point to 30-50%, but some newer research suggests up to 50-70% depending on the stalion, the mare and the stud/vets.
I would really like to see how this translates into successful breeding for mare owners :)
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Phone StallionAI and ask- they will have all the data for that stallion and they’re very transparent
 
I tried one of my mares a couple of times with frozen semen , with no luck, but she had not been an easy breeder previously with live cover/running with stallion so I would try again with something else
 
I’ve bred 2 by steeped in luck . Can honestly say it’s worth having a go .
We used fresh / chilled when he was standing at Stallion AI .
So although no experience of his frozen semen , I can vouch for his stock .
I’m sure Stallion A I can do a package for you . It’s just much more labour intense , making sure you insemminate at the right time .
 
I used frozen for my last mare, and it took 2 gos to get her impregnated. in hindsight, I hadn't checked the sperm quality in the straws, the stallion owner said it would take three straws when she was upon with him to be done. it didn't work. so I changed repro vet and she kind. of demanded 6 straws as sperm quality was lowish. and that worked. the whole process was quite expensive and nerve wracking! but got a lovely foal at the end
 
Well we have had 2 goes with frozen and no luck. All tests done with my mare and no issues there. Feeling very disappointed, time for a new direction.
 
Not exclusively. The stallion was chosen because he compliments the mare. I am going with fresh now and think I have found a nice stallion i can use. I'm worried now though about success with this too.
 
I think Future Gravitas, he is very well put together, lots of strength in the hind and a sport horse like my mare. Could be a nice pairing. His owners are very helpful too and he is available on both NFNFand LFG terms so that helps.
 
Yep, different direction. Though to be honest, Steeped in Luck is kind of out there on his own. We looked at other full IDs but they weren't what we wanted. Hopefully things will work out this time.
 
A few years ago we tried AI with frozen semen on a mare for two cycles without success. We then had a small window to get some chilled semen so decided to try that for the third round. Unfortunately, the semen went missing in transit and, to cut a long story short, when it arrived the repo vet said the quality had diminished so much he felt it was a waste of time. However, as we had missed the opportunity for using frozen that cycle I persuaded him to try and lo and behold she took! The vet did say some mares seem much more receptive to chilled rather than frozen and see was obviously one.
 
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I am beginning to think mine is too - its an expensive learning curve! I'm glad you were able to successfully breed from your mare,it gives me hope 🥰
 
A little update, after switching to fresh from a different stallion we got a pregnancy first time. I couldn't be more pleased, though I have to say that the experience has put me off using frozen in the future.
 
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