Thinking of Importing Semen?
Before equine owners and breeders plunge into artificial insemination and filling in orders for frozen semen, think twice about it if you don’t know what’s in store. This article, written by Lee Cox, gives light to his experience when importing cooled and frozen semen for the first time. Semen can be studied using microscopes, other examples used to study metals though are metallographic microscopes.
The author decided to give this method of breeding a try when his mare was in Queensland and the stallion he wanted to use was in Sydney. Upon looking into it, the author determined that there are several factors that affect the successful conception of the mare from using fresh, chilled or frozen sources of semen. Whatever those factors are, they are dependent on the people that hail from point A to point B. The first try of the author, unfortunately was not successful, and he ended up sending the mare to Sydney to conceive the natural way.
During the next breeding season, the author decided to re-breed the mare. This time, he decided to try artificial insemination using fresh semen. This method was successful, and got the author looking around worldwide for a stallion to contribute for the next breeding season. He was interested by a stallion that hailed from the United States and the process of importing semen was started.
This was not an easy process, as the author found out. New Zealand has rigorous health standards and its laws regarding quarantine are explained in a lengthy document that is to be followed to the letter. As the semen was collected, the methods were done according to the policies stipulated. Unluckily, the author was not able to import the semen because of WAHO and AHRA conflict.
The author then decided to use the previous method for this breeding season. He used frozen semen because the stallion that was previously used had already left the country. Artificial insemination is quite a tedious process and successful conception depends on the timing of ovulation and the insemination. The author’s mare was examined every eight hours by the vet to determine if a follicle was present. When it had reached 4cm the semen was inseminated. Six hours later the vet found that she not ovulated, so they repeated the insemination. This time, when the vet checked later, the mare had ovulated. They were lucky to get a conception during the first cycle.
The author attempted to import semen again once the WAHO, AHRA issue was resolved in the formation of the Purebred Arabian Registry. These tests use microscopes, and example of which are metallographic microscopes, used to study metals though.This time around the health standard had changed. New Zealand now required CEM tests while the stallion that was slated to contribute was kept in quarantine. After much hard work and communication, the semen was finally cleared with a certificate of equivalence and arrived in Christchurch.
The author also includes the costs he incurred during this importing process. He explains that even if the costs are expensive by New Zealand standards, it makes bloodlines and stallions all around the world available for breeding in New Zealand. In the long run, it turns out to be economical, comparing it to prices where the stallion or mare has to be shipped to Europe, the USA or Australia during the breeding season.
ORIGINAL TEXT:
The service fee is only the beginning?
When people say to me that they are looking at importing semen I wonder if they really know what is in store. Five years ago after reading reports on the success rates of using Artificial Insemination I was not exactly rushing out to try it. However when I decided to breed my mare, she was in Queensland and the stallion I wished to use was based in Sydney. I decided to give it a try.
There are many factors in a successful conception using fresh, chilled or frozen semen. The main factor from my experience is the people involved at both ends. Whatever people tell you about the post thaw mortility rates it is the conception rate that is the most important.
After several attempts at getting a pregnancy I eventually abandoned the idea and sent the mare to Sydney to be served naturally. On a 60 day positive test she came home.
When it came time to rebreed her, we decided to try A.I. using fresh semen. We were successful and this encouraged me to look worldwide for a stallion to use the following season. I was captivated by a stallion in the USA and proceedings began to import semen.
New Zealand has some of the most stringent health standards in the world, our laws relating to quarantine are set out in an extensive document that must be followed to the letter. When the semen was collected, it was done to the exact instruction of the health standard. This meant the stallion had to go into quarantine at a quarantine facility outside the farm. This is an exercise in itself of which the requirements are also included in the heath standard. Unfortunately due to the WAHO, AHRA conflict I was not able to bring the semen into NZ.
We then decided to repeat the previous breeding. However the stallion had left the country so we used frozen semen. My vet examined my mare every eight hours once we established a follicle was present. When it had reached 4 cm we inseminated her with the frozen semen. Six hours later my vet came to check whether she had ovulated. She hadn’t so we repeated the insemination. My vet again checked her later that evening and this time she had ovulated. We were fortunate to get a pregnancy on the first cycle.
With the WAHO, AHRA issue in regard to importing and exporting now resolved through the formation of the new Purebred Arabian Registry the wheels again set into motion. I again attempted to import the semen however the health standard had changed! NZ now required CEM tests to be performed at three day intervals while the stallion was in quarantine, whereas previously these tests were not required. Fortunately when the semen was being collected, it was also collected for other countries that did require these tests. We still had a minor problem as the tests were done every seven days instead of every three however we were able to obtain a certificate of equivalence. Finally the semen was cleared for export and arrived in Christchurch.
So far the costs we can expect to incur are:
service fee (plus the cost
of extra straws if
you want them) $2000 US and up
Collection and quarantine costs Varies (thousands)
Storage costs Varies
MAF import permit $250
MAF clearance fee $55
Customs GST tax on goods $500 (average)
Frozen semen container rental $150 US
International health certificate $150 US
USDA H.C. Endorsement fee $50 US
Courier documents $44 US
Administration fee $250 US
International airfreight $300 US
Courier for semen $85 US
US Customs clearance $175 US
NZAHBS insemination permit $10
Tolls, faxes etc? Varies
*US dollar at the moment is almost double.
This is only the beginning. Your transport costs alone can be in excess of $3000. This is over and above your service fee and collection costs and you still have vet fees associated with inseminating the mare. If you manage to get your mare pregnant first cycle you could expect a bill around the $500 to $700 mark depending on travel costs and the number of visits.
It is a worthwhile exercise as it makes bloodlines and stallions from all around the world available. Even though the costs are expensive by NZ standards, it is a very economic way of getting a foal by the stallion you want considering the price of horses in Europe, the USA and Australia without the additional expense of transport.
Having just been through this financially draining exercise I would recommend importing frozen semen if:
• You have a mare that you consider to be compatible, and
• You know your mare can conceive via fresh or frozen semen.
One last piece of advice is that if you do decide to import semen, buy additional straws. Your live foal guarantee applies to the service fee only and should include at least four free straws. If you need additional straws you will have to pay for them. It may seem an added expense at the time, but it is much more cost effective if you find you have used your straws and you still haven’t got a pregnancy considering the expense in getting the semen from the country of origin to NZ. Read more