The 411 on Frozen Semen

By William Given

It has been some 35 years since an amazing group of canine reproductive biologists reported the whelping of the first litter from the artificial insemination of a bitch using frozen semen. Since then, the technology of semen freezing, thawing and insemination has evolved tremendously. On an annual basis, thousands of bitches are inseminated with frozen semen around the world. And, although the technology for freezing and thawing canine semen has improved dramatically, the average conception rate of bitches inseminated with frozen semen remains some- where south of 50%. These results lead me to believe that research into optimizing the effectiveness of frozen semen insemination has failed to keep pace. However, one has to look at averages with a certain degree of skepticism since these numbers sometimes can be misleading.

It is well accepted that although the average conception rate per heat using frozen semen is between 40-50% when properly used, there is a great deal of variation, and it is not uncommon to see conception rates ranging between 0-80%. In addition to this variation, there is a lack of standardization in the information that is available regarding collection, freezing and thawing procedures, and insemination protocols.

The utilization of frozen semen as a tool in canine breeding program management has gained acceptance and increased demand since the American Kennel Club first recognized a litter conceived using frozen semen in 1981. The advantages of using frozen semen to a breeding program are many. The most obvious benefit is long-term storage of a superior stud dog’s genetic material. Research theriogenologists estimate that frozen semen could possibly remain viable for 10,000 years. Frozen semen could not only bridge the distance of international breedings, but also bridge the span of time for millennia. The preservation of special or limited gene pools could help improve individual breeds and assist in the elimination of genetic problems that could develop within a breed.

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Posted by Alex on Aug 16 2017. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.