The AKC registers litters from chilled and frozen semen when special forms are used. These forms are #ALA1FX and #ALA1FZ. Fresh semen artificial insemination requires the use of form #ALA1FH. These forms are available at the AKC website: www.akc.org

 

Artificial insemination using fresh extended semen requires signatures of the veterinarian who collects the ejaculate and of the veterinarian who inseminates the bitch with the extended semen. Artificial insemination with frozen semen requires that the insemination be performed and signed for by a veterinarian.

 

Terminology associated with the use of chilled and frozen semen includes:

 

-Extender: a chemical solution added to the ejaculate to both dilute and provide nutrients and protection for the sperm.

-Kits: a packaging system for chilled semen that usually contains: extender, a shipping container, ice packs and other materials. Kit prices and contents vary by supplier.

-Straw: a tiny (usually 0.5ml) package that can be used to freeze semen and can be identified individually. There is no standard number of sperm per straw.

-Pellet: a tiny pellet of material containing frozen sperm. There is no standard number of sperm per pellet.

-Insemination dose: number reported to the AKC. This is NOT standardized. Dr. Smith reports 100x10⁶ sperm +/- as an insemination dose.

-Dry shipper: container used to ship frozen semen.

 

 

Ejaculates from many dogs do not extend for chilled or frozen semen. Fertility from natural service and from fresh AI is highest- chilled semen next- frozen semen has the lowest fertility rate. 

 

Breeding with chilled and frozen semen requires exquisite ovulation timing. In natural service, sperm live about 11 days and can fertilize for 5-6 days. Chilled semen is much shorter lived and breedings need to be close to ovulation. With frozen semen, the breeding must take place after ovulation- typically 2-3 days post ovulation. 

 

For accurate ovulation timing, multiple quantitative progesterone samples are needed. In house progesterone timing, using tabletop kits, is often inadequate for chilled and frozen semen breedings. 

 

Typically, the bitch owner incurs all costs associated with semen collection and shipping, in addition to the stud service. Costs vary tremendously from practice to practice and by area of the country. Frozen semen breedings typically incur higher costs and many stud owners do not offer a return service if the bitch fails to conceive. 

 

Ask the stud owner whether the potential sire has ever sired puppies from chilled or frozen semen before you make the commitment to use these technologies.