Contact Information:

Judy E. Moyer - Owner
(856) 912-9455 Cell
sbpainthorses@aol.com

Dr. Jamie Reilly (856) 935-5600 (609) 820-1816  Cell

SHIPPED SEMEN PROCEDURES 101

With the arrival of shipped semen you now have access to the best stallions in the business, but shipped semen can mean more of a commitment for you to make it a success. First, make sure you have a vet who is experienced and successful using shipped semen. Don’t have one near you? Or live too far from an airport to meet the deadline? Consider sending your mare to a local and experience breeding station where the whole process can take place. Timing is everything with shipped semen. As the mare owner, you now have more control over breeding than ever, and it’s up to you to make sure the timing is correct. Here are some tips for shipped success:

Unfortunately, reality is not as simple as the concept of shipped semen. First, equine sperm is more delicate than most other species of livestock and note that not all stallions will ship. This delicacy coupled with the complexity of the mare's reproductive cycle makes timing of artificial insemination the single most important factor in the art of transported semen.

·              Make sure your mare is prepared! A breeding soundness exam is the first step. A rectal exam of the mare's reproductive is common. If your mare is barren or open, you might consider a uterine culture to check for disease or infections that could exist.

·              The heat is on! Most mares come into heat every 21 days, and each heat lasts about 5 to 7 days. Ideally, you’ll want to tease your mare daily to record her heat cycle. Estrus records along with an ultrasound or rectal palpation of the mare's when she is in heat can estimate ovulation. No teasing stallion? Then it’s up to you and your vet to monitor the follicle and estimate ovulation. Breeding a mare with a foal is a popular option since the mare traditionally comes into heat 7 to 14 days after the birth of her foal, and then comes into heat again about 30 days after foaling.

·              Not a predicatable science! Since not all mares ovulate like clockwork, you might find hormone therapy an option to create a regular cycle.

·              When should I make the call? On average, breeding follicles mature by about 3 to 5 mm a day. Rectal palpation or ultrasound of the mare's reproductive tract is critical at this point to predict ovulation. This is where your record keeping and your vet’s experience comes into play. You’ll need to monitor the follicle and predict ovulation, so you know when to make the call to the stallion owner and order semen. Ovulation is near when the cervix opens and softens, uterus has firm tone, and the follicle is large in diameter and soft to the touch, this is usually around 45 to 55 mm.

The race begins! Remember, most semen is only good for about 48 hours after collection. Your vet will want to check for semen for quality before or after breeding the mare. Assuming the semen is viable, the mare should be inseminated as soon as possible. Most semen shipments come with two doses. Both may be used at one time or the second dose can be used 12-24 hours later. It’s a good idea to palpate your mare 24 hours after insemination to make sure she has ovulated. If she hasn’t re-ordering semen may be an option. Hormones are often used at this point to encourage ovulation. 15 to 18 days later you should schedule an ultrasound exam to determine if you got lucky! Good luck!

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