Artificial insemination (AI) has become an increasingly common for non-thoroughbred breeding. Stable Close Equine Practice has experience of AI with both chilled and frozen semen and all of our vets have been on AI training courses. Chilled AI should give as good a chance of conceiving as natural service but the conception rate depends largely on the individual mare. A healthy young maiden mare will have a much higher conception rate than an older mare that has had previous infertility or uterine infection. However, mares of any age that repeatedly contract uterine infections after covering may have a better rate of conception with AI.

• Increased choice of stallions.
• The mare does not have to travel to the stallion.
• The risk of infecting the mare with venereally transmitted diseases is reduced.
• Mares that are more susceptible to post-covering uterine infections have a better chance of conceiving if they are inseminated.
• Increased conception rates over frozen semen.

Chilled semen is best inseminated within 24 hours of collection and 12 hours of ovulation. Ultrasound examination is therefore required daily once the mare is ready to ovulate. Scanning provides a forecast of when the mare is likely to ovulate so that we can contact the stud in good time to ensure timely delivery of the semen. After insemination a further visit is required to ensure that ovulation has occurred. Throughout the time the mare is in season it is important that you are available throughout the day so that we can visit whenever appropriate. We offer a fixed price of £363 plus VAT for AI with chilled semen for one reproductive cycle.

This includes:

• Pre-breeding manual examination and ultrasound scan.
• A prostaglandin injection to synchronise the mare if necessary.
• Ultrasound examinations and journeys once the mare is in season.
• A uterine smear and swab taken at the beginning of the season, primarily to exclude signs of infection.
• An injection of Chorulon or implantation with Ovuplant where necessary.
• Microscopic analysis of semen quality, motility and proportion live.
• Insemination of semen, usually using deep intrauterine insemination techniques.
• Re-scanning after insemination to check ovulation and formation of corpus luteum.
• All paperwork completed.
• Ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis at an appropriate time.

This does not include:

• The cost of the semen and the cost of shipping the semen.
• Contagious equine metritis (CEM) swab and Equine viral arteritis (EVA) blood test. (Neither usually required for AI)
• Treatment of uterine infection and/or fluid before or after insemination.
• Caslick’s surgery after insemination where necessary.

At Stable Close Equine Practice we are experienced with and enthusiastic about the use of frozen semen. We usually carry out AI with frozen semen at one of the studs that we visit regularly or we may arrange to do it at your premises if you have the correct facilities and are reasonably close to the practice.

We have our own semen transport and storage containers which we can loan out to clients who wish us to carry out AI with frozen semen at their premises. We can also carry out storage and shipping of frozen semen. We offer a fixed price AI scheme as for chilled semen and the cost is dependent on where it is carried out. If you wish to discuss AI with frozen semen ring the practice and ask to speak to one of our vets.

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Stable Close Equine Ltd is registered in England & Wales at Bridgets Farm, Martyr Worthy, Hampshire. SO21 1AR.
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