Artificial Insemination

 

AI has been available for about 20 years; and has not become widely used

Why not?

Simple - it costs too much in vets fees.

Girsonfield Stud and I, working together, can offer an efficient minimum cost service, as follows:-

Send the mare to Girsonfield; she'll be kept there, and tried by the resident stallions till she comes in heat. See Girsonfield website or ring me for prices.

When the mare comes in heat, she'll be monitored by Susan and Frank using disposable vaginal speculums to check on the stage of heat. This avoids expensive vet visits, palpations and scans to check follicles, and is just as good a way to decide on service times.

Then Susan will inseminate; she's been on the course, and she's good at it.

I'm in the yard at least 3 times a week in the season. The three of us will talk over any problem mares - we do this all the time anyway - and I'll ring the owner of any problem mare to discuss what should be done.

Susan will liaise direct with the owners of the stallions that our customers want to use; she'll work out a semen delivery route - Securicor, Omega Express, whoever best serves the route from any other stud to Girsonfield. See Girsonfield website for a list of stallions already available.

And of course we can offer an AI service using Girsonfield Stallions on any non thoroughbred mare who is - for any reason - unsuitable for natural service.

Once a mare has been inseminated it would probably be best if she stayed in the yard for teasing and scanning. But of course that is up to the mare's owner.