AI & Frozen semen??? - Page 1

Do any of you used these methods?  My repro vet specialized in them and I was curious how successful they are...  Thanks for any info.

Liz

Ask your repro vet their success rate, because it can differ between vets, their facilities, and also with their individual experience with each type (fresh/frozen) or proceedure (manual/surgical).  Other factors can also influence success, such as female's stress, progesterone mixups by uncareful vet students or shipping delays by FedEx.  Will the stud owner provide another chance should it fail?  Would the vet guarantee, or give you a price break on the next attempt?

I've tried half a dozen times, with zero results. I've heard that the results aren't as good with GSDs as with other breeds, but that may just have been a vet being defensive.  

I feel like you are messing too much with mother nature when you start getting into AI, but that is my own opinion on it. I am one of those people that if it is meant to be it will be...  =)  I have a friend who never had a good success rate with it, wasn't sure if it was just the vet or the entire case...  Thank you for your input.

AI last only 24 and frozen only 12 hours that why you need very very good Vet with lots of succes for it. Frozen  is recommended by most Vet thse days to be done surgical .

I have had several litters via fresh express and a couple frozen, all big litters, Its best to do fresh express transcervical or even surgical rather than conventional   Frozen is traditionally done surgically though some Vets have started doing it transcervical  I would never do another frozen from a living male,too nerve racking! . Fresh express has to be collected , spun down and extended properly and really its best to use younger males for that and you have to have progesterone support  also hope the breeding does fall on Sun or Mon if your using Fed ex  Oi Vey!   As far as messin' with mother nature ?? What is selective breeding?  if mother nature had her way there would be no purebred dogs just one big happy  species  of mutts

Lief,
Great info thanks...  That is true about mother nature, I have just heard it is not a great success rate, but now that I have heard a few others opinions it sounds like my friends just had some bad luck with it.  I would not mind trying it, just trying to get different opinions on it. 

It seems like a pretty good option for people who want to use a stud on another coast, without shipping the female all over the place.  I hope more people comment on litter size and success rate, and if they went surgical or transcervical. 

Heather

I don't have GSDs but my male has been used successfully in Sweden via frozen semen albeit with small litters.  I recently  did a surgical insemination using fresh semen as the male is 11 and had low motility and volume.  Ultrasound at day 22 showed the possibility of a small litter and I will redo the ultrasound at day 29 which is this Wenesday.  I am not holding my breath though. 

I agree that timing is critical with fresh chilled and frozen.  You need to time insemination based on the LH surge and ovulation dates which requires, at the very least, a series of progesterone tests.