FROZEN EQUINE SEMEN PROCESS PERFECTED BY WEST COAST ORGANIZATION
The use of frozen semen for reproductive purposes has been common in the cattle industry for years. For a number of reasons, the same process has failed to be successful in the horse business. It was recently learned, however, that a California corporation, Horse Breeders Service, has perfected a process that has proven to be highly successful in the equine field. At a recent meeting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, attended by a group of interested horsemen representing several breeds, Denny Skoglund, president of Horse Breeders Service, explained the process and their service. Horse Breeders Service is a private corporation which, in late 1964, developed the process of freezing equine semen. Patents were applied for in 1965 and should be granted in April of this year.
Horse Breeders Service has offices on the West Coast and plans to establish similar facilities in Southern Missouri and probably Pennsylvania. Each office would maintain a staff that would work personally with each stallion owner who acquired their services. Stallion owners would contract for a given number of capsules for a given number of " services.” This would be done in the off-season so that their activity would not conflict with natural breeding during the regular season. They have had three custom freezing units on the road since last fall and thus far they have been well received.
Mr. Skoglund was careful to point out that " every CC of semen belongs to the stallion owner or his representative” and that Horse Breeders Service’ s only job is to draw the semen, capsule it and freeze it to be used by the stallion owner as he sees fit. It was noted, however, that a veterinarian or some other person authorized to handle frozen semen would be the only persons allowed to breed mares in this manner. A signed certificate must be turned in for each breeding and this is recorded by both the Horse Breeders Service and the Registry.
In a question-and-answer session, there were several thoughts brought up with regard to the pros and cons of such a service and the effect it would have on a given Registry. Some of these questions and answers are:
Q. Why should a breeder accept natural insemination with frozen stallion semen? A. The main reasons are as follows: 1. Cleanliness 2. Safety 3. Longer life of stallion 4. Better control of breeding records- less dishonesty 5. Saving in cost to mare owner in regard to transporting and boarding 6. More money to the breeder 7. Stallions with undesirable conformation and characteristics eliminate themselves because of cost to mare owner
8. The stallion is available to better mares which give better offspring.
Q. Why should the registry accept natural insemination with frozen stallion semen? A. The following reasons:
1. Better control of breeding records- less dishonesty- through signed breeding contracts, breeding receipts and the printed ampules( printing baked on and can’ t be removed easily)
2. To increase the number of offspring from better stallions which in turn tends to make the registry better and makes mare owners or new horsemen interested in the registry.
3. The available research facilities of H. B. S. and our work with semen and sterility.
4. The fact that only one company— Horse Breeders Service— is able to do this per our patents. This eliminates the doubtful element.
Q. Should the number of offspring be limited?
A. Most definitely! It is the feeling of our company that this is a must so that no one stallion or small group of stallions could dominate a breed in time. We suggest limiting the number of offspring to no more than 250 per year. All of Horse Breeders Service’ s breeding records would be made available to the registry. All of our technicians would be hand-picked by us for registry breeding.
Q. How does H. B. S. plan to get the semen?
A. We have had three custom freezing units on the road since the fall of 1968 for this service. All custom work is done on a contract basis, and H. B. S. would notify the registry regarding the stallion and the amount of semen frozen. We can also custom collect now in Petaluma and will be able to do so in the East at our stud in Pennsylvania.
Q. What will the cost be to the stallion owner?
A. At the present time, we charge $ 2.00 per CC for semen in the diluted state. This means that one ejaculate of approximately 100 CC’ s would dilute to 400 CC’ s and cost the owner $ 800.00.
Q. How many mares can be inseminated with 400CC’ s of diluted semen?
A. On a first heat breeding with two inseminations on the 4th and 6th days you could breed 20 mares. However, any repeats would lower this number.
Q. What is the conception rate? A. We are getting 73 % on first heat and 63.5 % on second heat breedings.
Q. Where were these mares bred and how? A. Under all field conditions and throughout the world.
Q. What method is used for inseminating?
A. Either capsule or syringe pipettes( 22” to 24”) can be used and the semen is deposited directly into the cervix. We recommend the capsule method as conception rate is slightly higher with no problem of infection.
Q. What about heat detection?
A. In most cases, the owner can tell the inseminator when the mare is in heat. If not, we recommend that a veterinarian be called to check heat and check for infection or disease.
Q. Will an inseminator breed when mare is diseased?
A. No! If he notes a diseased condition or signs of disease, he will not breed. He will suggest a veterinarian be called. This article is not to suggest that this service be adopted by our own Breeders’ Association. We present this article strictly for your information to keep you abreast of the news in the horse business. However, we feel that this process has some merit and should be discussed by our Association.
Anyone wishing more information on this process should contact: Mr. Denny Skoglund, Horse Breeders Service, P. O. Box 2186, Petaluma, California 94952.
60 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse