Pre - breeding examination
Before we take your mare in for AI we first need to asses her soundness for breeding. This involves a detailed reproductive examination by palpation and ultrasonography to asses her uterus, cervix and ovaries. She will also be swabbed for CEM (Contagious equine metritus).
This examination will highlight any factors that may compromise her fertility and allow us to treat her before insemination. It will also enable us to predict the stage of her cycle. We want the mare to arrive at the hospital having just come into season - this can be medically manipulated for those mares that don't show oestrous well. This can be a home visit or at the Hospital.
The first day your mare is at the hospital we will perform a pre-service oestrous swab. This allows us to assess the uterine environment and check for any infection that may require treatment before insemination. We will then perform an ultrasound examination of her reproductive tract which is repeated daily first thing in the morning. Ultrasonography allows us to follow her season to enable us to correctly time the insemination. On the ovaries, fluid filled structures called follicles develop in waves. When the mare is in season one of the follicles becomes dominant, suppressing the growth of the other follicles and growing a lot larger. This follicle contains the egg which will be released for fertilisation - ovulation.
Pre-ovulatory follicle Collapsing follicle forming a corpus luteam
The daily ultrasound examination is used to follow the growth of this follicle for the timing of insemination. When the follicle reaches the desired size the mare is given an ‘ovulation injection'. This is a hormonal injection that controls the follicular development such that, in 85% of mares, ovulation occurs 24-48 hours later. When using chilled semen we aim to deposit the semen within the uterus within 12 hours of ovulation. On the day the mare is given the ‘ovulation injection' we will also telephone the stud to order the semen for delivery the next day.
The semen is shipped first class / couriered to the hospital to arrive the next morning. On arrival the paperwork is checked - this should include health certificates if shipped from the continent - and the semen motility is assessed before the mare is inseminated. The mare is scanned the day after insemination to check that ovulation has occurred and to look for uterine fluid. This can accumulate in some mares 12-24 hours after insemination. This fluid can be detrimental to conception and may require extra treatment. All being well your mare can go home the day after she has been inseminated. Every measure is taken to ensure the timing and the uterine environment is ideal for conception, the rest is down to nature. After she has left the hospital we recommend 2 pregnancy scans at 15 and 30 days post insemination. These are required to check for a pregnancy, its viability and to check that a twin pregnancy has not occurred. These scans can be preformed at home or at the hospital depending on your preference.
Price List for Artificial Insemination 2010
For the 2010 breeding season Oakham Veterinary Hospital is offering fixed price* artificial insemination packages. For those owners considering AI for their mare we recommend you to contact the Hospital or see the website for a comprehensive information sheet. The vets will also be more than happy to discuss the program.
Fresh Semen Collection Fee from resident or visiting stallion at OVH
£55 + vat / per collection
Fee's for AI
Fresh or Chilled semen - £ 300 + vat
Frozen semen - £400 + vat
Included in the price:
• Up to 7 days grass livery
• Pre-service Uterine swab
• Daily rectal and ultrasound examinations to monitor ovarian development
• Ovulation injection
• Insemination
• Post ovulation scan
Not included in the price:
• CEM swab
• Home visit to assess mare and bring into season if required
• Uterine fluid and infection treatment if detected
• Sedation if required
• Livery beyond 7 days or stabling.(Please enquire about prices)
• Repeat insemination program should the mare not conceive
• 15 day scan +/- visit.