Why frozen semen - whats wrong with our own stallions?
Simple, the genepool in New Zealand is very narrow and some of our purebred Connemara mares are running out of options for breeding to unrelated stallions. Even then, because of the 'two island' problem, simply getting your mare to a stallion may also be an issue.
Is it using frozen semen 'right' for my mare?
Not every mare is suitable for use in a frozen semen breeding programme. A veterinarian experienced in the use of frozen semen is the best person to discuss whether it is a good choice for your mare. Generally speaking, the best mares are considered to be under 14 years of age, and have a good breeding record (easy to get in foal, and keep in foal). Older maiden mares, and those with a poor reproductive history are not good candidates. However, do not discount an easy breeding older mare without first checking with an equine reproduction specialist.
What guarantees are there with using Frozen Semen?
No guarantees are given to mare owners wishing to use frozen semen. Quite simply, too much of the success rate for getting mares in foal with frozen semen is outside the control of the stallion owner and of Spunk. Pregnancies from frozen semen are much more reliant on timing of breeding than with chilled or fresh semen - the timing of insemniation is critical to the outcome, and we have no control over that part of the opperation. The semen has been collected, frozen, and checked. It is considered by the breeding station that froze it to be of suitable quality for a successful insemination. The best 'guarantee' a mare owner can make is to have their mare inseminated at a facility which has a proven success rate using frozen semen.
What is the success rate of using frozen semen?
Success rates are calculated by how many doses of frozen semen result in how many foals. These figures are relevant ONLY to the stallion concerned. However statistically speaking, over all the frozen semen used worldwide, the success rate averages out to one pregnancy to 2.5 breeding doses.
What other costs are involved in using frozen semen?
Once you have purchased your semen, it needs to be transported to your chosen insemination centre. The semen is shipped in a special container, usually by courier, from the storage facility. The cost of the shipping is born by the person who has purchased the semen. The contract to ship is between you and the storage facility. The ONLY involvement Spunk has at this stage is to authorise the storage facility to ship to you. Shipping costs are in the vicinity of $200 (this includes the hire of the shipping container).
The insemination costs will vary from facility to facility. Some facilities charge on a per cycle system, some charge a set fee which covers three cycles. It is up to you as the mare owner to ascertain which system will suit you best.
Why is it SO expensive to use frozen semen?
There are lots of factors and costs that all rapidly accumulate when you start down the frozen semen route. Stallion owners incur some very considerable costs when freezing semen (especially when freezing to the standards required to ship semen to New Zealand), and this is passed onto you on top of the normal stud fee. Then there is the transport of the semen, which must remain frozen at very low temperatures, halfway around the world. The semen is accompanied by a veritable forest of paperwork, which must have all its i's dotted and t's crossed to be accepted by MAF. Once you actually have your semen, the vet fees will also start to rack up, as often mares are ultrasounded every 6 hours until they ovulate and are inseminated.
Why should I buy semen through you, and not just deal directly with the stallion owner?
Because it will quite likely cost you a lot more money; the biggest barrier to importing semen is the cost, and the two biggest parts of that cost are administrative costs (MAF and country of origin permits and health documents) and the cost of transport fees. The idea is that by combining forces with Spunk you share the cost of transport and administration fees which will get your semen into New Zealand.