Similarly, total and progressive motility did not differ across treatments but declined in all groups from T1 to T3 ( p ≤ 0.02). Spermatozoa membrane integrity was not different between centrifugation groups at any time point ( p ≥ 0.38) but declined significantly during cooling (T1 vs. Sperm losses were minimal, and RRs were similar across treatment groups (median >98%, p ≥ 0.062). Sperm RR (%) was calculated post-centrifugation, and plasma membrane integrity (%, Nucleocounter ® SP-100™), total and progressive motility (%, subjective and computer-assisted sperm analysis), and morphology (%, eosin-nigrosin staining) were assessed on initial raw semen (T0), post-centrifugation (T1), and 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after cooling. Individual ejaculates collected from 14 healthy dogs were split into six treatment groups (400 g, 720 g, and 900 g for 5 or 10 min). Cooled storage under standard shipping conditions was used as a stressor to evaluate long-term treatment effects. We hypothesized that higher gravitational (g) force and longer time of centrifugation would result in improved spermatozoa recovery rate (RR) but poorer semen quality. Hereby the semen is deposited directly in the uterus by means of an endoscopically guided flexible catheter.Our objective was to determine a clinically relevant range of centrifugation parameters for processing canine semen. In general the results of inseminations with chilled semen can be just as good as a natural mating if the semen after collection is of good quality, the timing is good and the insemination is done by TCI. This is the minimal amount of semen needed for fertilisation (100-150 million sperms with good motility and morphology).įor optimal results the best way to organise matings with chilled semen is to ensure that there is a maximum timeframe between the collection and the insemination of 36 hours. The price of freezing is higher than chilling and the transportation of frozen semen is more costly because of the need of using special containers with liquid nitrogen (dry shippers).Īnother advantage of using chilled semen is the use of the total collection for shipping and insemination while with frozen semen a collection is most of the time divided into several breeding-units. The costs of using chilled semen in total (collection, extending, packaging, transportation) are less than using frozen semen. You can see a photo of the box shown here.Īfter arriving at the destination the semen can be stored in a refrigerator if more time is needed for the female to reach the optimum time period. For most destinations this is enough to send the semen without loss of quality. The USA and Canada are countries where we can send chilled canine semen to with good results.įor the actual transportation at 4 degrees centrigrade we use a disposable box that can hold the cooled semen for 2 days. In that way an objective documentation is warranted.Ĭhilled semen is very easy to use in case of a short period of stocking the semen or for distribution within Europe and to other countries where quarantine regulations make it impossible to do so. It is also possible to email the moving images and the morphology images. We can send this digitally to the owner of the male and the receiving party before sending the semen.

Right after the collection we complete a quality assessment before and after extending. The extenders are: Canirep, Mofa and Minitube. We use different extenders depending on the time needed to cover and the specific semen factors. The capability of fertilising ova is most of the time much less possible. Depending on the quality of the semen, the extender and the cooling curve it is possible to keep the motility up to 10 days.

The preservation of semen for several days is possible by spinning it immediately after collection and adding a chilled semen extender and gradually cooling it to 4 degrees centrigrade.

Minitube canine extender