Frozen Semen Gaining in Popularity
This article is about the growing popularity of the usage of frozen semen in New Zealand. The programme was developed and brought to New Zealand by an Italian based group of equine breeders. Semen can analyzed using a variety of microscopes. A different kind of variety are metallorgraphic microscopes.
Antonio Carraretto, who spearheaded the team, brought together expert veterinarians and technicians (technicians are also able to use metallorgraphic microscopes) three years ago in order to determine what caused lox fertility rates when frozen semen is used. Based from these findings, they hoped to develop techniques and measures that would improve the percentages of fertility rates. Together with his team members Carlo Barnini, Cimone Ventura, Mark O’Hanlon and Jonathan Fitzpatrick, they pioneered in using frozen semen on a large scale. These Italian breeders now had 12 American stallions. Their target was that by the next breeding season, they would cover 140 mares with the frozen semen.
The Italian team, with the collaboration of John Shaw, a veterinarian from Prebbleton, brought the idea of using frozen semen to New Zealand. The team has attained a successful fertility rate, rising from 45 percent to as much as 80 percent, and hopes that New Zealand breeders will be encouraged by these numbers and use frozen semen when breeding horses.
However, Mr. Fitzpatrick, who has work experience in Rathbarry and Ballyhane Studs in Ireland for two years each and has tried his hand at showjumping, polo and racing, says it has not been that easy. Artificial insemination with the use of frozen semen is relatively in its early stages. He explains that they are trying to appeal to the New Zealand breeders to invest in this programme because the benefits from breeding good horses are profitable in the European market. Dr. Shaw also adds that frozen semen will be more important to horse breeders in the future. There already has promising results from frozen semen that was contributed by a sport-horse. One example is the import of frozen semen from the top American trotting sire named Pine Chip. He is the most expensive trotting sire ever made available to New Zealand breeders, at a cost of $US 10,000. Another sire, the son of Arndon, renowned to be the fastest trotter in the world and has won $US1.69 million in the midst of his racing career, also holds some appeal.
It was only until last year that frozen semen was regulated. In time, pacing horses may also be involved in the export market of frozen semen.
Mr. Fitzpatrick hopes the fertility rates due to frozen semen is successful in New Zealand this season, otherwise the Americans, from whom which the frozen semen is derived from, would not want to contribute any more. They will have their current samples, but there is a possibility that they will not make other stallions available for the export market.
Fertility rates are not solely dependent on the virility of the frozen semen, Mr. Fitzpatrick explains. He does the thawing the insemination of the mares himself. A lot of factors are combined in the successful conception. It is true that the fertility of the sire is important, but a lot of the success also depends on the ovulation of the mare. It is vital that the mare is inseminated within eight hours from its ovulation, if not fertilization may be difficult to achieve.
ORIGINAL TEXT:
Improvements in the use of frozen semen is opening up new possibilities for New Zealand horse breeders.
An Italian-based team is behind a programme to bring frozen semen from top American stallions to New Zealand breeders.
To combat low fertility percentages experienced with frozen semen, Italian Antonio Carraretto set up his own team of veterinarians and technicians three years ago. Carlo Barnini, Cimone Ventura, and Irishmen Mark O’Hanlon and Jonathan Fitzpatrick, were the first in the world to use frozen semen on a large scale. Italian breeders now had access to 12 US stallions, and next season about 140 mares would be covered by frozen semen.
Mr Fitzpatrick, 24, has brought the team’s idea to New Zealand in conjunction with Prebbleton veterinarian John Shaw. He says the improved fertility the team has attained — up from about 45 per cent to more than 80 per cent — has given European breeders confidence to use frozen semen. He hopes New Zealand breeders will follow suit.
“We’ve put a lot of work in. The first three years for six months at a time we were working 18 hours a day. It’s obviously paid off. But frozen semen isn’t easy. It’s still very early days, compared to bovine semen,” Mr Fitzpatrick says.
“We’re trying to give breeders the confidence to invest in this because at the moment here there’s no prize money in racing, and there’s no market to sell to. We’re trying to show them they can get the European markets if they breed good horses,” he says.
He has imported frozen semen from top US trotting sire Pine Chip T1:51). At $US10,000, he will be the most expensive trotting sire ever to be available to New Zealand breeders. The son of Arndon is the fastest trotter in the world, and won $US1.69 million during his racing career.
Dr Shaw says frozen semen would become more important to breeders in the future. He has already had good results from frozen sport-horse semen.
Frozen semen was regulated for use in standardbreds only last year. “The good pacing horses haven’t had the exposure, but possibly in time to come they may also go in the export market.”
The stud already stands three thoroughbred stallions and semen from the Irish Draught Kingsway Diamond.
If breeding by frozen semen is successful here this season, the team will continue next season. “If it’s not the Americans won’t want to send down the semen. What they’ve sent down now will always be available but in future they won’t make other stallions available,” Mr Fitzpatrick says.
Mr Fitzpatrick, who thaws the semen and inseminates the mares, says the better the fertility of the sire, the easier the operation is. “But most of the work goes into the ovulation of the mare. The mare has to be inseminated within eight hours of ovulation. That’s vital. If it’s not, it won’t work.”
Before his three years in Italy, Mr Fitzpatrick worked at Rathbarry and Ballyhane Studs in Ireland for two years each. He dabbled in showjumping, polo, and racing, before turning to trotters. Read more on this article