Dan Fawcett Consulting Ltd, Sheep Breeding Services



	Semen Collection and Freezing
	This can be done by obtaining a sample using an artificial vagina and teaser ewe. The semen is frozen down and can keep for 10,000 years!

	*Benefits of semen freezing:* Fully comprehensive insurance policy (at a fraction of the price) Increases ram power further Ideal ‘back-up’ in case the tup becomes ill or cannot work at tupping/AI time

	Fertility assessment This can be done in rams by collecting semen naturally with an AV and teaser ewe (or occasionally with an electroejaculator) and looking at it under a microscope.
	Benefits of fertility assessment: Avoid selling someone an infertile ram Avoid problems due to an infertile ram Artificial Insemination

	Generally this is fixed-time i.e. the flock is synchronised, using sponges and PMSG. The whole programme takes 14 days. Conception rates with fresh semen average 75%, frozen semen 65% although there is seasonal and breed variation.

	Artificial Insemination

	Benefits of AI: Increased ram power More rapid genetic gain Access to desired genetics Extremely tight lambing Easier management Improved fertility assessment Reduced disease risk

	Embryo Flushing and Transfer
	The ewes are synchronised in a similar manner to AI and then super-ovulated so that they produce a lot more eggs when they come into season. These eggs are then fertilised using AI and the resulting embryos are taken at about 6 days old. The whole programme takes about 20 days.

	Any healthy ewe can be used as a recipient or surrogate mother. Depending on breed and seasonal variation one can expect an average of 6-10 embryos per flush.

	The benefits of ET are: Extremely rapid genetic gain in your flock Generates quality low-cost replacement females Obtain lambs from ewes otherwise unable to produce progeny or carry lambs themselves Reduces disease risk

	Working together with your own vet
	All the drugs are available from your own vet who will also receive a copy of the programme.

	Understanding Your Programme

	Semen stored at other centres
	If you require semen which is stored elsewhere then we can easily arrange for shipment and help you through the whole procedure. We can and do carry out sire reference scheme work and always provide an official insemination certificate acceptable by all the official breed societies. If you are planning any artificial breeding work, don’t forget to plan well ahead. Even if you still don’t have a tup, book your AI date (we may be able to suggest some frozen semen).

	National Scrapie Plan
	Scrapie is a vital factor when making breeding decisions. Artificial breeding techniques provide a powerful tool in generating desirable traits and scrapie resistance can be one of them. Whether or not you are a member of the NSP we can advise you in making the best use of AI/ET to produce a scrapie resistant flock.

	AI in Hill Flocks
	Lately there has been a tremendous increase in AI among hill flocks. The benefits come mainly from the use of shared tups and tups that are unable to cover a large number of sheep for whatever reason. Occasionally we use frozen semen from tups that have died or have been destroyed.

	At Kirkby Stephen in 2002, £110,000 of Swaledale shearlings were sold all by one particular tup, Horsehead Brown the First, sold by John Cowan for £7500 to Hutchinson of Redgate and Harrison of Tailbert. If it had not been for AI technology none of this would have been possible as the tup had an injury to its front legs and could only cover a small number of ewes. Providing the problem is not familial, as in this case, AI provides an excellent tool for maximising output from the best breeding animals.

		Dolphinseat Freddie - sold for £48,000 to Bull & Cave / Stockdale Kirkby Stephen 2002 Commended by SSBA
	Dolphinseat First Class - sold for £28,000 to R Bell Kirkby Stephen 2002 Reserve Champion - SSBA
		Dolphinseat Famous - sold for £22,000 to Coach & Horses / Stanhope Gate Kirkby Stephen 2002

	Cross Purposes
	In addition there has been a sharp rise in the number of crossing sheep that we have AI’d (Blue Faced Leicester over Swaledale etc.). The price of good mule gimmer lambs has enabled breeders to justify the increased cost. AI enables them to have a much tighter control over lambing and produce a very even lamb crop which can be managed more efficiently. Not to mention providing a perfect shop window for your leicester tups.The only caution that I would urge is that you have plenty of space inside in case of bad weather ! (If you AI 200 sheep in a day they will usually lamb over 5-7 days, the majority of them coming over 2 days).

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