Frozen Semen Chilled Semen

Dr John F Newell B.V.Sc., Director – Consultant at Central West Canine Breeding

Canine Frozen Semen technologies have advanced over the past two decades and now provide market opportunities and the assurance that the semen of your valuable breed lines can be preserved indefinitely for future use or on-sale. Both the Greyhound Industry and the Show Dog world have embraced frozen semen breeding as the preferred breeding method for more than 10 years. Instead of using the entire ejaculate, as occurs with natural mating, semen collected and processed according to strict protocols usually yields 3 to 6 breeding units per ejaculate. There is no compromise to litter size or the health and vigor of the puppies.

Greyhound race times have reduced since the widespread use of frozen semen – only the strongest, most vigorous and anatomically normal sperm survive the freezing process. Breeders now have access to the top genetics from around the world which has also improved the gene pool.

Frozen semen allows us to better manage our sires. Quality collections can be stored at times of highest fertility during the cooler months of the year for use when high temperature stress may affect semen quality The majority of bitches cycle at this time of year when the sire is less capable of “keeping up with the demand”.

Once semen has been collected and processed for freezing, according to strict protocols, it may be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen at minus1960C. We have achieved a successful conception from 23-yearold semen and produced healthy pups. Frozen semen provides unlimited options for line breeding. Frozen semen may be relocated around Australia or even sent Internationally provided the collection has been prepared and blood tests completed according to the requirements of the importing country.

By taking full control of the semen processing, we know there is 100 million normal living motile sperm per inseminate dose. If we are preparing a bitch for implant at Central West Canine Breeding (CWCB), we monitor the rise in progesterone levels by blood test as well as vaginal cytology smears to track the season to the optimum time to breed. [We will discuss Progesterone Testing & Vaginal Cytology –When to Breed -in a subsequent article]. Semen may then be inserted by surgical implant or trans-cervical insemination (TCI). Conception rates average 90% at CWCB.