Reproductive services
We offer hospital-based and stud-based services to breeders across Cheshire and the North West, including:
- Artificial Insemination (AI).
- Embryo transfer.
- Semen collection.
- Preparing mares for a ‘walk-in’ visit to stud.
- Investigation of infertility in mares.
- Storage of frozen semen.
- Investigation of behavioural problems in mares.
- Surgical treatment of conditions, including ‘rigs’ and ovarian tumours by conventional and keyhole surgery.
- Foal medicine.
We have invested in a purpose-built breeding unit, which is managed by dedicated equine vets.
We provide a friendly, professional and affordable service, and our experience, expertise and modern facilities allow us to produce excellent conception rates.
We have been successfully inseminating mares for many years, and typically inseminate 70 to 75 mares per year at our hospital, in addition to those mares inseminated on surrounding studs.
Attention to detail is often the key to success when breeding; we treat mares as individuals.
If you require any further information about our fertility services, please do not hesitate to call us on 01565 723030.
Why choose Artificial Insemination for your mare?
When considering breeding from a mare, the decision of whether to proceed with natural cover versus artificial insemination will depend on factors including:
- The availability of the stallion – Many sports horse stallions will only be available by Artificial Insemination due to competition commitments or concerns about the stallion suffering injury during covering.
- The age and breeding history of the mare – Artificial Insemination is particularly suitable for mares with lower fertility that are difficult to get in foal. These may include older mares or mares with poor vulvar conformation, which are prone to uterine infection (endometritis).
- The location of the stallion – A mare may go to a stud close to home and the semen can be brought in from elsewhere in the UK or abroad. This removes the need to subject the mare to long-distance travel and allows her to return home between ultrasound scans, insemination and pregnancy diagnosis, if desired.
When considering breeding from a mare, the decision of whether to proceed with natural cover versus artificial insemination will depend on factors including:
- The availability of the stallion – Many sports horse stallions will only be available by Artificial Insemination due to competition commitments or concerns about the stallion suffering injury during covering.
- The age and breeding history of the mare – Artificial Insemination is particularly suitable for mares with lower fertility that are difficult to get in foal. These may include older mares or mares with poor vulvar conformation, which are prone to uterine infection (endometritis).
- The location of the stallion – A mare may go to a stud close to home and the semen can be brought in from elsewhere in the UK or abroad. This removes the need to subject the mare to long-distance travel and allows her to return home between ultrasound scans, insemination and pregnancy diagnosis, if desired.
AI prices
In order to help you budget, we provide a complete package for fresh/chilled and for frozen artificial insemination. Please contact our team if you would like to learn more.
The package includes:
- An initial breeding soundness exam.
- All scans associated with artificial insemination, including up to three pregnancy scans at 15, 25 and 44 days.
- The insemination procedure.
- Routine drugs including:
One ovulating agent (Chorulon or Ovuplant).
Unlimited oxytocin injections.
One dose of intrauterine antibiotics post-insemination.
Uterine lavage with 1 litre of saline post-insemination.
One injection of prostaglandin to short-cycle the mare, when necessary.
Excluded from the package are:
- Livery fees.
- A clitoral swab for contagious equine metritis.
- Non-routine drugs, such as sedation.
- Additional litres of saline for uterine lavage.
- Procedures including squeezing twins, Caslick’s procedure, endometrial swab, endometrial biopsy.
- Treatment of endometritis.
- Any treatments/medications not specified above.
- External lab fees.
- VAT.
In order to help you budget, we provide a complete package for fresh/chilled and for frozen artificial insemination. Please contact our team if you would like to learn more.
The package includes:
- An initial breeding soundness exam.
- All scans associated with artificial insemination, including up to three pregnancy scans at 15, 25 and 44 days.
- The insemination procedure.
- Routine drugs including:
One ovulating agent (Chorulon or Ovuplant).
Unlimited oxytocin injections.
One dose of intrauterine antibiotics post-insemination.
Uterine lavage with 1 litre of saline post-insemination.
One injection of prostaglandin to short-cycle the mare, when necessary.
Excluded from the package are:
- Livery fees.
- A clitoral swab for contagious equine metritis.
- Non-routine drugs, such as sedation.
- Additional litres of saline for uterine lavage.
- Procedures including squeezing twins, Caslick’s procedure, endometrial swab, endometrial biopsy.
- Treatment of endometritis.
- Any treatments/medications not specified above.
- External lab fees.
- VAT.
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer involves the removal of a six to eight day-old embryo from the uterus of a donor mare, and is a non-surgical transfer into the uterus of a recipient mare.
To learn more, download our fact sheet:
Embryo transfer involves the removal of a six to eight day-old embryo from the uterus of a donor mare, and is a non-surgical transfer into the uterus of a recipient mare.
To learn more, download our fact sheet:
