There are many reasons as to why people consider freezing stallion semen. Common situations include but are not limited to;
- Aged stallions
- Expanding markets (different countries/continents) and increasing revenue streams
- Preserving genetics of a stallion before castrating
- Help handle large books of mares during the breeding season or to have stallion semen available during competition season should collecting the stallion not be an option at certain times of the year
- Insurance factor in the event of disease, disability or death
Emerald Ridge Farm is located immediately east of Guelph and in close proximity to Toronto Pearson International Airport allowing various transport options for either fresh chilled or frozen stallion semen throughout Canada and the United States. Emerald Ridge Farm is owned and operated by Dr. Patrick and Anna Meyers. Dr. Patrick Meyers is a board certified theriogenologist (reproduction specialist). We have extensive experience standing stallions at this facility since 2004 that service over 500 mares annually in North America. We have both resident stallions and stallions that come in for collection.
Our lab is fully equipped with state of the art equipment including a programmable freezer and CASA system (computer assisted sperm analyzer) to help provide optimal freezing services. Emerald Ridge Farm is the only Select Breeders Service lab in Canada.
Select Breeders Services (SBS) is a network comprised of veterinarians and reproductive physiologists who share the commitment to provide the highest level of customer service, quality control and leading edge technology as it relates to freezing semen across North America, Europe and Australasia. Paul Loomis founded select Breeders Service in 1987. SBS quickly developed the reputation for providing quality service and superior knowledge in the area of frozen semen. The Affiliate Laboratory program was offered in 2000 and today Select Breeders Services have labs throughout the world that can draw on 25 years of experience in freezing thousands of stallions and representing some of the highest profile clients.
The existing SBS network means that we can tap into support across the globe whether dealing with distribution of stallion semen into new markets or in dealing with government agencies that control entry of semen into different countries.
Select Breeders Services offers many other unique advantages. There is on-going research to ensure that we continue to employ the best protocols and technology with cross-clinic trials used for evaluation. Uniform protocols across all labs mean that you can obtain the same superior freezing technology in any SBS affiliate lab should you require these services in a different geographical location. The SBS network also has an annual scientific review of current literature providing you with the most to date methods for optimal freezing results.
It is important to acknowledge that not all stallion semen freezes well. Select Breeders Services does not use a “cookie cutter approach” where one methodology suits all horses. Each stallion is evaluated in a “test freeze” situation while employing a number of proprietary freezing extenders using different freeze curves to arrive at an optimal protocol that will yield the best results for YOUR stallion.
Every ejaculate frozen by Select Breeders Services is evaluated by computer to insure it meets our minimum commercial standards for distribution within the network and a culture is obtained to ensure that it is free of bacterial contaminants. A second set of control straws are sent to a second lab to confirm progressive motility numbers and quality of the semen providing clients with the confidence that they are shipping frozen semen with optimal quality for obtaining pregnancies in mares. Mare owners also have confidence that they are purchasing frozen semen that has met minimum standards and as a result many choose stallions that have been frozen by the SBS network by accessing the sire directory.
Emerald Ridge Farm is equipped to provide quarantine for stallions whose semen will be frozen for export.
We will provide all of the legwork to ensure that import or export requirements is met. As well, Select Breeders Services provides frozen semen storage as well as a distribution program.
We also can help mare owners who choose to use frozen stallion semen by providing mare management programs to optimize pregnancy rates on site.
Please feel free to inquire about your horse reproductive needs.
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