KsCER's focus is to optimize the chance of success on each cycle of pregnancy.  In 2016, Dr. Hayden and her team attained > 60% per cycle pregnancy rates utilizing frozen semen.  Despite high success rates, KsCER recommends planning for 2 - 3 cycles to attain pregnancy as frozen semen quality is highly variable.  To optimize success, a deep-horn insemination technique is utilized for all frozen semen breedings.  Portions of frozen breeding management can be performed off-site, however all breeding management closely to and following ovulation must be performed at KsCER.  

Our goal is to provide easy to understand and transparent pricing, to support this our breeding management services are offered in standard packages.  The package approach allows us to evaluate the mares much more intensely without additional financial impact for the mare owner.  We offer two standard KsCER packages that are priced on a per cycle basis that encompass the typical procedures normally required for successful breeding management of the average, fertile mare with average quality frozen semen and includes:

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• Transrectal ultrasonography and palpation for the cycle of breeding

• Administration of a single ovulation induction agent (e.g. Deslorelin)

• Oxytocin/PGF₂ₐ injections from 7 am – 10 pm

• Deep-horn insemination with frozen semen

• Semen evaluation

• The mare will be evaluated ~24 - 28 hrs post-ovulation induction with sucromate then again at 36 - 38 hrs post-ovulation induction.  If ovulation is not detected at the 36 - 38 hrs post-ovulation induction, the mare will be re-evaluated every 2 - 4 hrs for ovulation until 48 hours post-ovulation induction with sucromate

• Single transrectally guided deep-horn Insemination once ovulation is detected.

• Pregnancy evaluation up to day 70 of pregnancy.  Fetal gender determination can be attempted on or after day 60 of pregnancy (preferable 60 - 67 days).

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The package utilized for each mare is based on their presentation and selected based on the following criteria:

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Package #1 - Timed AI Package​

• Most mares will start with this package, typical candidates for this package include:

  • Mare that ovulates in a predictable time frame (36 - 48 hours post-ovulation induction with sucromate) and do not require monitoring every 4 - 6 hours outside of 7 am – 10 pm for ovulation detection

  • Insemination occurs post-ovulation (only 1 insemination dose required)

    • It, however, may be beneficial to supply multiple doses in the event that semen quality is sub-standard or other issues are noted (e.g. straw failure)

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Package #2 - Every 4 - 6 Hr Monitoring Package

• Mares will be switched this package if one the following events occur:

  • If the mare has not ovulated within 48 hours post-ovulation induction with sucromate

    • The mare did not properly respond to the sucromate injection

  • Uterine edema, follicle size, and follicular softness indicates that the mare may ovulate before 36 hours post-ovulation induction with sucromate

    • If the mare ovulates before 36 hours post-ovulation induction with sucromate, the mare’s body triggered ovulation prior to sucromate injections

• The Close Monitoring AI package includes all of the items in the Timed AI Package along with monitoring every 4 - 6 hours from 10 pm - 7 am

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KsCER offers the following additional services that may be recommended or required and are not part of the basic breeding management package:

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• Board

• Farm calls, price varies with distance from KsCER

• Sedation

• Shipment fees for return of semen shipping container

• Courier fees for semen pickup

• Oxytocin / PGF2α injections from 10 pm – 7 am

  • This is only done in mares that still have intrauterine fluid despite receiving oxytocin every 4 – 6 hrs from 7 am – 10 pm

• Uterine lavage

• Intra-uterine treatments

• Antibiotics (systemic and intra-uterine)

• Medications other than those listed above (e.g., anti-inflammatories)

• Endometrial culture, cytology, or biopsy

  • We offer in-house cultures which allows us to rapidly identify and treat infections when found​

• Caslick’s surgery &/or breeding stitch

• Twin reduction

• Portions of frozen breeding management can be performed off-site, however all breeding management closely to and following ovulation must be performed at KsCER.  

• Despite Dr. Hayden and her team's high success rates, KsCER recommends planning for 2 - 3 cycles to attain pregnancy as frozen semen quality is highly variable

• Frozen semen is most commonly used when fresh or cooled semen is not available.  Common reasons for non-availability include a stallion that is actively competing, is now a gelding, is deceased, is no longer fertile with fresh or cooled semen or is not located within the continental US

• KsCER highly recommends that you obtain a minimum of 2 - 3 doses of frozen semen

• The number of straws in a dose of frozen semen is highly variable and is dependent on the type of straw used, the concentration at which the semen was frozen and the post-thaw semen quality.  The typical insemination dose should typically include a minimum of 200 - 250 million progressively motile sperm