I live in the South West of England. I am looking for recommendations for somewhere to take semen from my boys. I have enquiries from abroad for both chilled and frozen semen and would be most grateful for any recommendations.
Thank you :)

I would have thought that your vets would be your first port of call or folk in your breed? Is this not something a good stud owner does themselves these days?.

Your average vet practice is woefully ignorant about any assisted breeding procedures, from progesterone testing up.

A few years ago a friends whose older dog I attempted to use unsuccessfully at the other end of the country refused to obtain and test a semen sample to see if he was firing blanks. They suggested she get a sample and bring it in!!!

There are a couple repo vets.
You have one in Bristol called The AI Centre UK
There is UK clone I believe is south England based
Millhouse vets in Bridgend south wales

Fit and fertile is thurther up near perston

Not sure of his name but if you google AI it should come up - there is a chap in South Wales who deals with all sorts of these procedures.

Go to UK clone, other places can freeze but export is another matter. I've got experience with a couple of the big ones and if I ever did it again I'd go to UK Clone. I'm also in the south west. My second choice would be the repro vet (Angelika) in Cambridge. I wouldn't ever bother with Fit and Fertile again, personally. The South Wales guy is a lovely, helpful guy but doesn't deal with export.

I think Overhill Kennels in Bristol used to arrange collections by UK Clone. They never seemed very organised with it though, ime, and I don't know if they still do it. I'd contact UK Clone direct.

Quote FizzGSP:I would have thought that your vets would be your first port of call or folk in your breed? Is this not something a good stud owner does themselves these days?.

Well, you'd be completely wrong there, FizzGSP! And judgemental comment or what!

Most vets have very little interest in canine reproduction and are very reluctant even to check sperm quality! Exporting semen is a very specialist area and not many people do it. General veterinary practices do not have the specialist equipment needed to prepare semen for chilling or freezing or to keep it stored.

I have asked for recommendations from people and many thanks to those who have made helpful comments :)

Linda Milne ...previously of AB breeding (Edinburgh), is likely to do a collection day in Ledbury soon.

http://www.trade-genetics.com/uk-collections.html

I did some searching and perhaps this website might help?    I think I know of somebody in my main breed who does/has done this - I'll PM with a name/contact

We've used Hector Heathocte (UK Clone) several times , in fact only just got back from seeing him.     He's very helpful, and everything we have sent abroad has gone without a hitch.    He is just replanning his office building.

Jo

Hi all

Does anyone no where you can get the equipment to transport the seman? Website or company name

Thanks

It's a bit more complicated than that I'm afraid.
If someone is relying on a good sample for a much awaited mating and paying for it....a very good collection needs to be sent.
Sperm is a very fragile commodity and the slightest thing can damage it and needs to be extended in a special product for a journey of any length.
Chemicals ( water even), types of plastics, lubricants, temperature ....all can kill it.
Some expert advice at the very least is needed.
Hector supplies kits for this purpose.