SHEEP SEMEN - Artificial Insemination

Julia

Beth April
Beth Henderson has been the Ani-
mal Technician for the AB Center most years since 1993, managing the donor rams and the teaser ew -
es. Beth also trains the rams for semen collection, which requires infinite patience and exceptional animal handling skills!
April Bacon Laboratory Technicia-
n, has done most of the semen pr -
ocessing at the AB Center since 1996. April's methodical approach ensures that each sample meets high standards for semen quality
or is discarded. April also assists with the AI work.

sheep semen sheep semen sheep semen
To facilitate the genetic improvement of New Zealand's sheep industry by distributing quality genetic semen material from proven superior sires.
Promoting the benefits of the use of elite genes and encouraging their use through the provision of quality animal breeding services which meet the needs of New Zealand sheep breeders.

Highest Quality
Genetic Gains Ltd strives towards providing breeders with a service of the
highest quality.

Intensive Breeding
Julia Aspinall, the principal owner of Genetic Gains Ltd has specialised in animal breeding since 1985 and has been heavily involved in some of NZ's
most intensive breeding operations.

These include a large angora goat programme, LambXL's 'New Breed' Quarantine, Silverstream's East Friesians, Tara Hills Supreme Merinos and numerous on-farm programmes.

She has been involved in several international projects, including the recovery of Awassi embryos for importation into New Zealand from Israel in 1990 and 1991.

While in Israel, the Gulf War began which resulted in some very interesti-
ng extra challenges! More recently, Julia has been travelling to Oregon, USA for artificial insemination projects.

Julia has a B.H.Sc., M.Sc. and NZIM Dip. Mgt.

     Semen Collection
  The ewe on the right is held in    a static position ready for the
   ram to be released through a    door in front him.

      Rams in training.
  Two seven month old ram hog-
  gets being trained for semen
  collection.

Genetic Gains Ltd produce a ram semen catalogue featuring genetically superior sires.
All rams featured in the catalogue have been proven to be genetically supe-
rior either by sire referencing, progeny testing or some other comparative trial.
This ensures that the genes offered are from among the most productive rams in New Zealand.
The photo on the the left upper shows the ewe on right being held in a static poisition before the ram on left is introduced to her for semen collect-
ion.

Semen Sales:
Having the ram featured in the catalogue is a free service for breeders, who benefit from the advertising, the recognition of having bred or purchased an elite sire and revenue from semen sales.
The catalogue is distributed to farmers in New Zealand who have shown an
interest in AI.
To order a catalogue, please email: julia@genetic-gains.co.nz

International Market:
NZ has a wide range of sheep genetics of a very high quality. Overseas breeders are invited to specify their requirements for ram semen. Genetic Gains will then find the donor animals which meet these requirements and process the semen according to the appropriate export health protocol. Quotations are supplied on request, please email: julia@genetic-gains.co.nz

Semen Storage
Part of the Semen storage tanks.
The Semen straws are first rapid-
ly frozen in a large dedicated freezer then transfered to these specialized storage tanks which are filled with liquid nitrogen and kept at a constant -196 degr-
ees

Semen Straw
The straw above the pen is 130mm in length (5-1/2inches).

Genetic Gains Ltd is pleased to announce that from February 1999, the business is leasing the Woodlands Artificial Breeding (AB) Centre from AgResearch. This is a very exciting development for Genetic Gains, as we are now able to provide our clients with a more complete range of services.

Semen Storage:
The AB Centre consists of a 1.8 hectares of land, a laboratory, semen storage area and sheep handling facilities. Rams and bucks are health tested before being admitted to the Centre and are frequently monitored for liveweight and general health. Breeders can be sure their valuable sires are receiving very good care.
Services provided by the AB Centre include:
* Ram and buck semen collection.
Processing for domestic use and export.
* Semen storage.
* Semen dispatch.
Genetic Gains Ltd will continue to provide these services and will strive towards continually improving the quality and range of services offered,
please email julia@genetic-gains.co.nz

  Artificial Inseminating
    Julia   demonstrating   the     Intrauterine (Laparoscopic)
    Artificial Insemination (AI)
    technique.

Inseminating Technique

Genetic Gains Ltd and Premier Genetics NZ Ltd work together, offeri-
ng on-farm breeding services for sheep and goats.
These include:
* Intrauterine (Laparoscopic) Artificial Insemination (AI).
The average conception rate is 75% with frozen semen.

* Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET).
The average Embryo hold rate is 75%.

A very specialised laparoscopic embryo recovery tecnique is offered. This highly skilled technique subjects the valuable doner ewe to a minimum of trauma, and allows repeated embryo collections with a much reduced risk of permanent damage compared to the traditional surgical technique.

Inseminating technique

Half of the belly wool is removed, and the abdomen is sterilised. A laparpo-
scope and an inseminating pipette containing the straw are inserted throu-
gh two very small holes at locally anaesthetised sites. Half a straw of sem-
en is injected direcly into each horn of the uterus.

Do-it-yourself Cervical AI and Ram Semen Collection Courses:
These courses are designed for sheep farmers who have a small number of genetically superior sires on their property which they would like to use over large numbers of ewes.

Do-it-yourself Cervical AI Courses:
are held on request for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 people per course. A comprehensive manual is included, and at the end of the one day course participants are fully competent to carry out cervical AI on their own sheep.

Ram Semen Collection Courses:
are held on request for a maximum of 4 people per course. This is also a one day course including a comprehensive manual. It covers ram semen collection and handling, processing for immediate use and field assessment.

Cow AI:
Cow AI services have been offered to farmers in the Southland area since 1993, and up to 4,000 cows per year are now inseminated. julia@genetic-gains.co.nz

Net Profit
Genetic improvement or cumulative Net Profit over Three Sheep Gener-
ations

Use of rams achieving an average rate of genetic improvement (compared to no genetic improvement) results in an increase in cumula-
tive net profit of tens of thousands of dollars for an average sheep farmer over ten years.

Use of elite rams (compared to average rams) can more than double a breeders rate of genetic improvement as well as cumulative net profit (see graph at left).

AI and MOET helps breeders to achieve a rapid rate of genetic improve-
ment and thus high value ram sales.
AI with frozen-thawed semen allows use of elite sires even after they are injured or dead.

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