If you have any questions or would like to discuss your breeding requirements further please

What does it involve?

BRITBREED will provide you with a synchronisation programme of step by step instructions on how to ensure that your ewes are at the same stage in their cycle at the time of A.I (Artificial Insemination). Your ewes can be inseminated with frozen semen, or fresh semen collected on the day.

Why?

• Allows efficient sharing of sires
• Allows an elite sire to be more widely used on one day
• Shortens the lambing period allowing more efficient use of labour as your synchronised ewes will lamb together enabling you to keep a higher percentage of lambs born, alive.
• Enables accurate vaccination and feeding in late pregnancy, again increasing lamb health and decreasing mortality.
• You can take part in group breeding schemes eg. Sire Reference Schemes.
• It is easier to run a closed or high health flock as it decreases the risk of bringing in diseases exotic to your flock.

Methods Of Artificial Insemination

There are two kinds of Artificial Insemination:

Laparoscopic Insemination and Cervical Insemination
The differences are explained below:

Laparoscopic Insemination

• Fresh or frozen semen can be used
• Up to 300 ewes can be inseminated with one elite ram in any one day

 

Cervical Insemination

• Fresh semen in sheep; deer; dogs
• Frozen semen in goats only
• Up to 40 ewes can be inseminated with one elite ram in any one day.

 

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Can the procedure take place on my farm?

AI is normally carried out on farm, although smaller numbers can be accommodated at our centre.

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Average Conception Rates

Type of Semen	Lowland Breeds	Upland Breeds
Fresh	75%	85%
Frozen	65%	70%

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Benefits of Fertility Testing your Ram Prior to your AI day

• Infertility can pose major problems for any breeder during the season. BRITBREED recommends that all AI sires are fertility tested at least 4 weeks prior to the AI date.
• Fertility testing is also recommend for sires that are to be used for natural mating.
• Fertility testing prior to your AI date allows any problems to be diagnosed and treated effectively.

 

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