Thinking of breeding your mare this breeding season? Maraboon Rural vet services offers a variety of services to assist you this breeding season.
Mare services offered at Maraboon Rural Vet Services:
Artificial insemination: the process involves ultrasounding the mares’ uterus and ovaries to determine where she is in her cycle then determining the optimal time for insemination using chilled, fresh or frozen semen. Artificial insemination has many advantages including:
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Multiple mares can be bred to the same stallion
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Mares don’t need to travel large distances
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Less risk of injury to both mare and stallion
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Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases
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Reduce risk of mating associated contamination in problem mares
Embryo transfer: Transferring the embryo from one mare into another recipient mare that acts as the surrogate for that foal. This process involves inseminating the Donor mare to create a pregnancy, the embryo is then flushed from the donor mare 7 - 9 days post ovulation. The embryo is then transplanted into the uterus of a synchronised recipient mare (she is at the same stage in her cycle as the donor mare). There are many reasons for choosing this route for your mare including
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High value mares that must remain in competition
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Mares that are unable to carry foals to term
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Potentially have multiple foals from the same mare in one breeding season
It's important to note this is a higher risk procedure as an embryo is not always flushed from a mare and the embryo does not always implant into the uterus of the recipient mare to maintain the pregnancy.
Preparation for live mare cover: Live cover involves taking your mare to a stallion for breeding. In order to optimise timing and maximise conception rates we can assist by scanning your mare to determine the stage or her cycle and inducing ovulation with medications to allow for live cover at an optimal time
Please note: Stallions that are standing at Maraboon Rural Vet Services are not offering live cover so we will only be offering this service to mares that are travelling to outside stallions.
Choosing semen:
Fresh semen: can be collected and inseminated on site, providing fresh, high quality semen. Fresh semen, if fertile, can last up to 7 days in a mares reproductive tract. Artificial insemination has a similar conception rate to natural service with 75% for Ai and 80% for natural service
Chilled semen: process involves collecting the stallion, examining and extending the semen for transport. The semen is extended using a liquid that protects sperm against seminal fluid, provides nutrients, cooling buffers and antibiotics to reduce disease transmission. It is then packaged and cooled slowly in the transport container. This allows semen to be sent throughout Australia which increases access to stallions.
Frozen semen: Frozen semen is processed by adding a liquid diluent to extend the semen and ensure it will withstand the freezing and thawing process. After freezing, the semen can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen and thawed just prior to insemination. Frozen semen does not last as long in the reproductive tract once thawed compared with chilled semen, so more scans are required to ensure insemination occurs within 6 hours of ovulation. The main advance of frozen semen is the ability to store semen for an extended period of time. The major disadvantage of frozen semen is the conception rate is approximately 50% of what live cover or chilled semen, which equates to 30-40% per breeding cycle – subject to stallion semen quality some may achieve better or worse conception rates.
How to book your mare in this breeding season:
Upon enquiring with us (either via phone or email) you will receive an email from us detailing all the information you need- including pricing, instructions and relevant forms.
Step by step booking process:
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Select your preferred reproduction method (Embryo transfer or Artificial insemination)
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Download and fill in the applicable forms for your mare (see website) or refer to emailed forms
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Embryo transfer bookings require forms 1 and 2
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Please read and follow the ordering guidelines in form 5 to organise semen for your mare
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Artificial insemination (fresh, chilled or frozen) require form 1.
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Please read and follow the ordering guidelines in form 5 to organise semen for your mare
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Email your completed forms to admin@maraboonruralvetservices.com.au
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Pay your deposit (see forms for payment details)
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Wait for your confirmation email and drop off time
Please note: Bookings are not confirmed until all paperwork and deposits are received. Spaces are limited and will be allocated in order of application completions
If you have any questions about this breeding season or your mare o stallion, give our helpful team a call on 07 4982 2552 or send an email to admin@maraboonruralvetservices.com.au