Frozen blood can be used, but must be shipped frozen to OptiGen. Frozen semen can be used for most tests. Please read the details for use and shipping at the link "Instructions and Information".

Canine semen can be collected and preserved with state of the art extender products to provide necessary nutrients and cryoprotectants to the sperm cells during the process of chilling, freezing in liquid nitrogen vapors and then in liquid nitrogen itself.

The younger the dog the better the semen quality! Any time after 10 months of age we can collect semen and freeze the sample.

Any dog collected for frozen or fresh-extended semen use after October 1, 1998, must be AKC DNA Profiled (Click here for more information). Litters produced by frozen semen count towards qualifying a dog as a Frequently Used Sire. However, if the semen was collected before October 1, 1998, a DNA Profile is not required.

Your hemoglobin level will be checked prior to each donation to ensure that it meets minimum requirements. If you have been slightly anemic in the past, a diet that includes iron rich foods can help to raise your hemoglobin above the minimum level required for blood donation. Contact the Hoag Blood Donor Services for a complete list of iron rich foods.

Unlike fresh semen, which can live in the reproductive tract of a bitch for 5-7 days, frozen semen will only live 12-20 hours once thawed. It must preserve all it's energy to penetrate and fertilize the eggs, so the best conception rates (90% in our practice) are achieved with surgical insemination, where the semen is injected directly into the uterine horn. Since vaginal insemination has statistically low conception rates (under 20%), we do not suggest using your valuable semen in this fashion.

Answer: The transfer of Frozen Semen must be done at the facility that the semen is stored. We do require that all sire owners sign consenting to the transfer. The facility will notify AKC once the transfer has been completed on their records.

Although some stallions have similar results with frozen and fresh semen, AI with frozen semen, from most stallions, results in slightly lower fertility per cycle than similar inseminations with unfrozen semen. When stallions are selected for AI programs based on post-thaw semen quality, and mare management is controlled, per cycle pregnancy rates of 40 - 50% can be expected on average. This compares to 50 - 60% for cooled semen and 60 - 70% for immediately inseminated fresh semen.

Not all stallions can be frozen successfully. Based on studies conducted in Europe and experience of Select Breeders Service approximately 30% of all stallions produce sperm which are unable to withstand the stresses of freezing and thawing using current technology.

Although some stallions have similar results with frozen and fresh semen, AI with frozen semen, from most stallions, results in slightly lower fertility per cycle than similar inseminations with unfrozen semen. When stallions are selected for AI programs based on post-thaw semen quality, and mare management is controlled, per cycle pregnancy rates of 40 - 50% can be expected on average. This compares to 50 - 60% for cooled semen and 60 - 70% for immediately inseminated fresh semen.

The average stallion provides sufficient sperm on an every other day collection schedule to produce 12-15 doses of frozen semen. Depending on sperm production of the individual this number may vary from 2-40 doses per collection. Typically 2-3 doses are used per estrous cycle, therefore each collection provides enough frozen semen to inseminate through 5-6 cycles.

If stored properly frozen semen can maintain viability for many years. Frozen semen is stored immersed in liquid nitrogen at -197?C (-320?F). At this temperature, metabolism is virtually halted. No one knows the ultimate lifespan of properly stored frozen equine semen. However, Select Breeders Service, Inc. has achieved pregnancies with semen frozen for more than 8 years.

This is a common belief of many veterinarians and breeders. The fact is that no one really knows what the life span of frozen vs fresh semen is. The types of damage that can occur to sperm membranes during the freezing and thawing process theoretically could reduce the time of survival in the mare's reproductive tract.

Answer : We test using serum. Testing serum verses whole blood gives us the advantage maintaining the specimen for a longer period of time, and more accurate results.

Single chemistry tests (Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, Glucose, and Ketone), require 15 µL of whole blood. Lipid Panel tests require 35-40 µL of whole blood. Chol+Glu test panels require 25-30 µL of whole blood. Creatinine tests require 20 µL of whole blood. top

You may need to test your blood several times a day. Generally, these times are fasting (first thing in the morning before you eat) and 2 hours after each meal (postprandial). Occasionally, you may be asked to test more frequently during the day or at night. As each person is an individual, your health care provider can advise the schedule best for you.

Blood in ejaculated semen (hemospermia) is relatively uncommon and rarely serious. In most cases, the cause can't be determined, and the problem goes away without treatment. However, known causes of blood in semen include inflammation, infection and blockage or injury to the prostate gland or seminal vesicles. Also, following a prostate biopsy, it is common to have blood-tinged semen for four or five subsequent ejaculations.

The collection of semen for the artificial breeding must be reported to the AKC with DNA certification. If the semen was collected after October 1, 1998, the sire must be AKC DNA Certified. The collector/storer must be on record with the AKC as familiar with and complying with the AKC regulations for record keeping and identification of dogs.

No. Select Breeders Service Europe will ship enough frozen semen to manage the mare through one complete heat period. The shipping tanks are specially designed cryogenic vessels that maintain the frozen semen at -197?C for at least two weeks. This allows SBSE to ship the semen to your vet well in advance of the anticipated insemination date avoiding the last minute "mad rush" to schedule semen shipments that are associated with cooled transported semen breeding.