Semen Handling (er is geen Nederlandse vertaling voorhanden)

The are two methods of semen preservation and extending:

1. Fresh extended semen 2. Frozen semen

The differences amongst the two are the following:

1. Fresh extended semen is centrifuged after distraction, diluted with a special fluid and cooled down to 4 degrees centigrade. Good quality semen with the correct protocol can hold its capacity to fertilize a bitch between 5 to 7 days. One can store it in a refrigerator till using it for artificial insemination. This should always be done endoscopically through the vagina and cervix straight into the uterus. We use an endoscope with a flexible catheter for this so one can deposit the semen in the top of the uterine horns. The fertility rate can be at least as high as natural breeding when performed in the correct way and with the bitch optimally prepared for the right moment (80%). Because of the relatively simple way of preparing it is very easy to use fresh extended semen to send by regular mail of transportation to other breeders in other countries. One can use a special transportation box with cooling elements for this. The costs are fairly low: we charge 275 euro for the distraction, quality analysis, documentation and the cooling box and package. That is everything without the transportation fee and that is one-way. The box does not have to be sent back, contrary to the situation with sending frozen semen.
   
2. Frozen semen is also centrifuged, and diluted, but we use a two step dilution for this. The first dilution is with a kind of fluid as used for the fresh extended semen, but the second step contains an antifreeze substance. After equibrilation the semen is frozen in a freezing computer using liquid nitrogen (minus 196 degrees centigrade) in straws (preferably) or pellets. Then it is stored in a liquid nitrogen holding tank. The quality remains constant indefinitely in this way. One can use the semen at whatever point of time one thinks is best. This gives the opportunity to store valuable genetic material overtime. It also gives us the possibility to ship semen all over the world, also to countries with strict sanitary of quarantine restrictions. The quality of frozen semen has been questionable for a long time but recently the quality of the extenders and the freezing protocol have substantially improved so the results with frozen semen are still somewhat lower then with fresh extended but are in the range of 65%. The cost of freezing semen is 420 euro, this includes one year of storage. After this storage costs are 65 euro per dog per year. If you want to ship frozen semen this is best done by using a dry-shipper. This is a container that holds the liquid nitrogen in the wall, so one can use this for air transportation without extra costs. Because of the relative high cost of this dryshipper, we rent this out to the client, and the dryshipper is sent to and fro.

Important points to keep in mind when one considers to use fresh extended or frozen semen:

• always prepare the bitch optimally e.g. progesterone test for optimal timing, culture, etc.
• inseminate straight into the uterus: bypasses the cervix and gives much better results
• never accept semen without a thorough quality assessment; for frozen semen this means the results after freezing and thawing
• preferably a computer assisted quality analysis
• minimal insemination dosage: 150 x 10-6 good viable sperms
• use the correct and advised thawing procedure when using frozen semen
• always inseminate if possible two times (even if there is optimal timing): there is not an optimal moment but an optimal period of about 2 ½ days!
• consult an experienced repro-vet when there are questions about reproduction or reproduction problems