When natural breedings do not work or when it is not possible to do natural breedings due to either scheduling or the male is deceased we have choices in the type of breeding to be done. Natural breeding, when possible is always a good choice, but with artificial insemination we have the ability to increase conception rates without the necessity of both the sire and dam being in the same place at the same time. Chilled semen and frozen semen have greatly increased the flexibility of today’s breedings. We also have the possibility of collecting semen and storing it as a fresh chilled sample for several weeks before the actual breeding.

Chilled semen breedings have been done for over 30 years. Before today’s excellent extenders boiled skim milk was used for an extender. We now have several companies making shipping kits and proprietary extenders for shipment overnight to almost anywhere in the North American continent and to some European countries that will accept the samples without quarantine. In most cases, the semen is collected and the sperm rich fraction is centrifuged and then extended with a solution that nourishes and keeps the semen alive for multiple days. If a male has not been used for chilled semen previously we recommend doing a test chilled sample with a longevity test. The sample is collected and extended as in a shipped sample except that the sample is placed in a water bath and refrigerated for up to several weeks with the sample examined daily. This is the same method used to store a sample if a male is alive but unable to be present for breeding. We expect gradual loss of motility over 5 to 7 days. If the sample is to be used in the future, the extender may be changed every 5 to 7 days until needed for breeding.

Frozen semen has been used in the canine for well over 30 years. Originally, conception rates were very low until the capability of accurate progesterone and leuteotropic hormone (LH) analysis. Originally, breedings were done with vaginal cytology as the only timing method. Progesterone testing has been discussed in another article that is available on this website. Overwhelmingly, frozen semen is used with surgical insemination for the best results. It is possible to use frozen semen vaginally but the results are less than desirable. Transcervical insemination (TCI) is being used with good results. In our experience, TCI has worked well in our practice if two inseminations are done 8 to 12 hours apart. The only drawback is that this requires twice the semen volume needed for a single surgical insemination. We have not found that following a surgical insemination with a vaginal or TCI breeding has increased conception rate.

Frozen semen has the obvious benefit of being able to use a stud’s semen long after his death. International shipments of semen are frequently done with frozen semen because of long shipping times and quarantines needed for several countries. If you, as a breeder, are considering shipping semen out of the United States it is imperative to check prerequisite blood testing and the need for a physical examination with the frozen semen center before the semen is collected. If these requirements are not met the sample cannot be shipped.
Transcervical insemination is also used frequently for fresh breedings. TCI breeding method has shown to have a better conception rate than vaginal breeding and has not been shown to cause any increased incidence with uterine infection. Artificial insemination gives the chance to evaluate the semen prior to breeding. TCI breeding has the benefit having success with semen with low numbers or quality thaw would not produce a litter with natural or vaginal artificial insemination.

Multiple choices are available for breedings, and with good timing we have the ability to produce puppies with semen from males that are in other countries as well as from males that have been deceased for many years.