308-532-4880
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Reproductive Services
Freezing Semen

  • The collecting and freezing process takes over an hour; however most of that time is spent in the lab. It is possible that we will be able to collect your dog and you will be on your way in as little as 15 minutes.  If you are making a special trip, make an appointment in the morning for a collection and then another appointment in the afternoon for a second collection. This may give you additional breeding vials during the one trip.

  • Many dogs will produce more than 4 breeding units/vials in one collection, and it is not unusual for a dog to produce up to 10 breeding units/vials from a single collection. Owners have the option of storing the additional units if they choose. It is helpful to consider the number of units/vials you wish to freeze/store before arriving for your appointment.

  • The frozen semen is stored on the premises in liquid nitrogen storage tanks. Bitch owners who are interested in breeding need to contact the stud owner for breeding arrangements. Heartland Animal Center is not the owner of the semen and no breeding arrangements can be made without the semen owner's consent.

It is important to call 308-532-4880 a couple days in advance to make an appointment for collection and freezing as we need to be prepared for your arrival.
We perform semen freezing on Monday through Friday. We can also freeze on Saturday mornings under special circumstances.

FROZEN SEMEN
  • File Preparation   $45.00
  • Collection, Evaluation, Freezing (4 vials)     $200.00
  • Annual Storage per dog (up to 30 vials)$72.00
  • Brucellosis Test          $45.00
  • Total Base Fee for 4 Vials  $362.00
  • Additional Semen Collection (same visit)      $100.00
  • Additional Vial (freezing and processing)      $60.00 each
  • The annual storage fee for 31 to 60 vials     $120.00
Costs

  • The American Kennel Club (AKC) requires that any dog that has been collected for frozen semen must have a DNA profile on record. We have DNA collection kits and can perform this very simple and painless test during your appointment.

  • We also recommend permanent identification for your dog. We utilize the AKC Microchip; this small chip is the size of a grain of rice and is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dog. All humane societies, animal shelters and most veterinary clinics across the United States have scanners so the chance of recovering your dog if he/she is lost is much higher.

  • Brucellosis Test: Most stud dog owners will require the bitch to have a Brucellosis test within 2 weeks of the breeding date especially if the breeding will be natural. Brucellosis is a contagious venereal disease that can cause abortions. We perform this test in-house and will have the results within 30-45 minutes.

  • Pregnancy Test: We have the ability to run a pregnancy test on your dog. Your dog must be at least 32 days along in her pregnancy before we can run the blood test.




















  • Chilled Semen Insemination: This method involves a stud dog that is collected in a different location than the bitch and the semen is "chilled" and sent via overnight express to the location of the bitch. The veterinarian at the bitch's location then inserts the semen either vaginally or surgically. Ovulation timing is highly recommended for this insemination type to be successful. If the ovulation timing is correct, pregnancy rates are as good as natural or side-by-side artificial insemination. 

  • Frozen Insemination: This method involves semen that has been frozen and stored in a location. Ovulation timing is extremely critical and mandatory with this type of insemination. Frozen semen is surgically implanted into the uterus directly through an abdominal incision. The optimal day for surgical implantation is determined by ovulation timing only.

Ovulation Timing

  • Ovulation timing is highly critical to the breeding process when "mother nature" is not involved. It may be the most important aspect of breeding as it improves the conception rate. Ovulation timing allows us to know exactly when the most fertile period is and will have the greatest chance of producing the largest litter.
  • Ovulation timing is a combination of events and requires vigilance on the part of the owner.

  • 1. The first day of the bitch's season is critical so owners must be vigilant in tracking when the bitch comes into season. This first day is measured as the first day the bitch starts to spot. Use a white facial tissue to check for spotting every day when you know your bitch is getting close to coming into season.

  • 2. We will begin Progesterone testing around day 5 or 6 after the spotting starts in order to find a baseline.

  • 3. Progesterone testing will continue every other day to help us determine the day of ovulation.

  • Progesterone testing is a blood test that specifically measures the amount of progesterone. The amount of Progesterone will tell us when ovulation occurred and thus when we will need to inseminate. The testing is done locally and is extremely accurate. The results are reported in Nanograms. We receive results within 4-6 hours or can order "stat" runs and receive results within 2 hours. 

  • It is possible to have the baseline Progesterone testing done at your location if a reputable reference lab has the capabilities. Many larger hospital laboratories will be able to run the test.

  • If you plan on using chilled or frozen semen, it is important that you contact our office as soon as possible to discuss ovulation timing, shipping timetables, consent forms, etc. It takes a lot of coordination to have all the items in place when your bitch is ready to breed so it is never too early to line up all the requirements. 

  • Every bitch is different with their season/heat cycle and their fertile period can fall during any day within their heat cycle. Most "average" bitches are the most fertile around day 12-14 of their cycle.  However, there are bitches that can be fertile as early as day 5 and as late as day 21 so ovulation timing and Progesterone testing is the only assured measure of pinpointing the fertile period.


Chilled Semen
  • The semen is collected, cooled and an extender is added to keep the semen alive. The chilled semen is then shipped in special kits via FedEx or UPS Overnight. Remember that FedEx and UPS will not deliver on Sunday and so we must work to assure that semen arrives as close as possible to the height of the fertile period. Chilled semen is better to have too early than too late as the semen will generally live up to 48 hours once inside the bitch.

  • Chilled semen will involve costs for the special shipping kits, the overnight shipping, and the stud dog's veterinary costs of collecting as well as your veterinary costs to inseminate. Check to make sure the stud dog owner has the special shipping kits and that overnight shipping can be accomplished from their location.

  • If the stud owner needs the special chilled shipping kits, please contact our office as we can ship the kits ahead of time so the stud dog owner's veterinarian has them on hand. Most chilled breedings should be done twice about 24 to 48 hours apart so again, plan accordingly. Also, don't forget the progesterone tests for your girl.

  • Have a back-up plan in case the weather, a weekend or a holiday interferes with shipping.

  • Chilled breedings take the most coordination between all the parties so everyone must be flexible to accomplish this type of breeding.

Frozen Semen
  • Frozen semen is usually stored with us or at a facility somewhere in the US or possibly overseas. One nice thing about frozen semen is that it can be shipped anytime to our office so it can be waiting in our storage tank until your bitch comes into season therefore the weather, weekends and holidays do not play a role in the shipping coordination.

  • When frozen semen is released or shipped, it must be paid for and it is then "yours" essentially. You must still work with the stud owner to determine what guidelines you must follow when using the semen, the stud owner will need to sign off on any registration papers so be sure you understand any and all restrictions up front. Most stud owners will only release one insemination unit per breeding.

  • In addition to the stud fee, you will be charged a release fee for the frozen semen, the rental fee for the shipping tank, and the shipping costs of the nitrogen tank. Shipping costs are higher due to the size of the shipping container for frozen semen.  Don't forget the Progesterone tests, which are critical and mandatory as frozen semen will only live about 12 hours once inside the bitch.

  • Your veterinarian will also charge for the surgery required to implant the semen into the uterus.


International Canine Semen Bank - Nebraska
The technology is now available in Nebraska to collect, freeze and store canine semen.  This will give you, as the dog owner, the ability to preserve the genetics of your champion, your best friend or hunting buddy for years to come.

  • Since 2005, Heartland Animal Center has been the International Canine Semen Bank of Nebraska (ICSB-NE). The process used by ICSB is recognized and approved by the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), American Field, and National Greyhound Association.

  • Our reproductive services team recognizes the commitment, emotional and financial investment, and pride involved in showing and breeding purebred dogs.  We provide state-of-the-art reproductive services, including breeding timing, insemination, and semen collection.

  • With our reproductive services including same day progesterone testing, you can spare yourself the time and trouble of traveling. With our frozen semen program, you have the peace of mind and assurance that the semen from your selected male will be available for decades.

  • As owners and breeders, our reproductive services team understands your unique needs and concerns when it comes to breeding your next generation of champions.
Breeding

When the big day comes to breed your female, many considerations should be made. The method of insemination should be the first consideration:

  • Natural Breeding

  • Side-by-Side Artificial Insemination: This method involves the veterinarian and both the stud dog and the bitch must be present. The veterinarian will collect the male and immediately insert the collected semen into the bitch vaginally. This method is very successful if the bitch is reproductively healthy. Ovulation timing is helpful with this type of insemination and may be recommended or requested.
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