Artificial Insemination and Stud Work
Artificial insemination, or AI, is becoming increasingly used in the equine breeding industry. It can be safer than natural covering for both mare and stallion. It also offers the possibility of using stallions that are based a long way away, or are in the middle of their competition schedule, or even stallions that are dead, to breed with your mare. Artificial insemination can be done using fresh, chilled or frozen semen.
Fresh Semen
This method gives the highest pregnancy rate, however it is dependent on the mare and stallion being on the same yard. Insemination should occur during the mare’s season no more than 48 hours before ovulation, although some very fertile stallions do have semen that will remain viable in the mare’s womb for more than 48 hours.
Chilled Semen
Any mare being prepared for AI using chilled semen needs to be monitored carefully by regular scanning. Veterinary experience and the use of hormonal injections aid in predicting the time of ovulation. Insemination should take place close to the time of ovulation at the end of her season. Chilled semen is normally delivered by overnight courier, so is approximately 24 hours old when it arrives at the mare. This can reduce the fertility of the semen. Courier service can also cause problems in that delivery on Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays are normally not possible – this sometimes necessitates frantic drives by mare owners to collect it!
Frozen Semen
Insemination using frozen semen results in the lowest conception rates, as a result of the reduction in fertility of the semen in the freezing process. We aim to inseminate within 6 hrs of ovulation, which makes regular scanning vital. This method is best reserved for mares with a good breeding history.
Here at Oakhill Veterinary Centre, a BEVA registered AI Practice, we offer a range of services to help you with breeding from your mare. At the surgery we offer excellent facilities for visiting mares with or without a foal at foot. There is the option of grass turnout or stabling.
Rectal ultrasound scanning is performed at appropriate intervals by experienced vets. Inseminations are regularly performed using chilled or frozen semen.
With all mares that undergo artificial insemination, the health of their uterus during the season is monitored. If there is a problem treatment with high volume uterine flushes or intra-uterine antibiotic lavages can be instigated.
All mares inseminated should be scanned for pregnancy at 17-18 days. Investigation of mares that repeatedly fail to become pregnant is possible using intra-uterine endoscopy and biopsy.
We offer fixed price packages (more expensive for frozen semen) for both methods to assist you with budgeting for this period. To find out more, phone us at the surgery and discuss your needs with one of the vets.
