1 minute read
Semen Handling Checkup
by GENEX
GENEX semen is now being distributed with straws in both the top and bottom goblets. With more straws in top goblets, it is a good time to check your semen handling technique to ensure maximum fertility at the time of insemination.
Keep it low!
First, keep it low! Keep canes as low as possible in the neck of the tank when choosing semen for insemination or checking for inventory. Tweezers allow you to maintain a deeper working depth than using your fingers, in addition to reducing heat transfer to the straws.
Make it fast!
Second, make it fast! Exposure to warm temperatures can rapidly impact semen viability. Plus, each exposure adds up, so many short exposures can cause problems too. If a straw is warmed enough to collect frost, it may be accumulating damage.
Fill it up!
Lastly, fill it up! Minimum recommended volumes of liquid nitrogen ensure the bottom goblet contains liquid when a cane is lifted, increasing the safe working time. However, top goblets will often be dry, increasing the risk of warming. Filling your tank more often can provide an additional layer of protection during semen handling.
“There was No Liquid Nitrogen in the Shipper Tank”
Understanding Vapor Shipper Tanks
When semen is shipped direct to the dairy from GENEX, it is shipped in vapor tanks. When opening the tank, one may think, “There wasn’t liquid nitrogen in the shipper tank I received” or “I am not sure if the shipper tank was cold enough, and I am concerned about the quality of the semen.” The reason these thoughts arise is the tank does not use liquid nitrogen. Instead, the tank contains a special material that absorbs the nitrogen and releases vapor to keep the tank cold. This makes the tank lighter to ship and not considered hazardous.
How it works: The vapor tank is used for all U.S. orders and some international orders. Before the tank is shipped from GENEX, it is filled with liquid nitrogen and then sits for 24 hours as the inner vessel cools and the tank charges. After the 24 hours, the liquid nitrogen is poured out, the semen order is packed and the tank is shipped out the same day.
Once the shipment arrives at the dairy, open the tank right away and make sure the canisters are extremely cold to the touch; they might also be frosted up. Transfer all the semen to the on-farm storage tank immediately. Do not leave the semen in the vapor shipper for any length of time.
If the canisters in the shipper tank are warm enough to touch or cold vapor is not visible in the shipper, contact the GENEX Distribution Center at shawano.distribution@crinet.com or 715.526.7576.
