Artificial Insemination
Willesley Equine Clinic has a dedicated Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre run by Chris Shepherd MRCVS. The Centre is now beginning its 17th year. Last year approximately 125 mares visited the Clinic for artificial insemination. AI is available via fresh, chilled or frozen semen.
Advantages of AI
- Mares do not have to travel long distances to be covered by a stallion
- AI eliminates the risk of damage to the stallion or mare during natural covering
- AI reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases
- AI gives you a much greater choice of Stallion
Fresh Semen
Fresh semen (mixed with extender, but not chilled or frozen) must be inseminated into the mare within 2 hours of collection. Because the semen is not damaged by preservation (chilling or freezing) it produces the best conception rates for artificial insemination. Fresh semen is available from local stallions, some of which have their semen collected at Willesley.
Chilled Semen
After a mare owner has decided on which stallion to use, the semen is shipped to us in a special semen flask called an Equitainer. The timing of this is determined by the mare's ovulation period. Our vets liaise with the stud providing the semen so that it is collected from the stallion and shipped to us at the optimum time. Most British-based stallions advertised in Horse and Hound and the Equestrian press are available for AI with chilled semen. There is a comprehensive list of stallions on the web at our sister site, www.equineai.com. Some thoroughbred stallions are available in the UK, but it must be remembered that offspring produced by AI are not eligible for entry into the General Stud Book and therefore not able to race under Horseracing Regulatory Authority rules.
Frozen Semen
Frozen semen is used mainly from stallions outside the UK, competing stallions or from collection prior to castration or being put down. The timing of insemination is critical as thawed sperm survival-time is much reduced. Willesley Equine Clinic have in store frozen semen from a limited number of stallions (as opposed to chilled or fresh semen). West Kington Stud, Equine AI and Worldclass Stallions are our main frozen semen suppliers.
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