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Owners Use Semen Collection

What is owners use semen collection?

We provide bovine semen collection and freezing both on farm and in our clinic. After the semen is collected it is then chilled before being processed and froze at the lab. 

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We require the bull identification 3 days prior to collection so straws can be printed accordingly. No health tests are required prior to semen collection. This semen is frozen for in herd use only and is not to be sold. Only the current owners of the bull shall have access to the semen.

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semen collection Process

collect
sire

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semen processed

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freezing

post thaw

AI cows

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Book an appointment to collect your sire

The semen is checked for quality and then chilled

The semen is loaded into straws and frozen using liquid nitrogen

A post thaw analysis is done to ensure semen quality is up to standards after freezing

The semen is now available to use 

  • How often can oocytes be collected?
    Oocytes can be collected every two weeks and this is one of the main advantages of IVF as cows can be collected more rapidly to improve genetic genes.
  • What results can be expected with each IVF?
    An average mature breed cow will give 18 oocytes which should translate into roughly 5 freezable quality embryos. Beef heifers will vary more in their oocyte numbers and embryo development rates. However, typically we will see 30-40% of oocytes develop into freezable quality embryos.
  • What donor females make good candidates for IVF?
    Similar to conventional embryo production highly fertile cows will still produce better in an IVF scenario. Donor selection criteria such as age, parity, fertile history and nutritional status are essential in choosing proper candidates for IVF. However, cow that do not perform well in a conventional flush should still perform well in an IVF.
  • How young can heifers be IVF'd?
    Heifers can be collected as early as 8 months, but for best results it is common to wait until they’ve had their own natural heat cycle prior to collection.
  • What are grade 2 IVF embryos?
    According to IETS grading standards a Grade 2 IVF embryo would have a similar classification to a Grade 1 (excellent) conventional embryo. Pregnancy rates between Grade 1 and Grade 2 IVF embryo are very similar.
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