Rottweileronline.net

If you are collecting a stud dog to be stored for future use, how many straws should you plan to collect and freeze? How many straws are typically used during a single AI breeding?

Depends on how many times you are planning on breeding or selling the semen.
Again depends on quality of semen .

Since it is a dog never used, I'm really not sure but I want the option to use it in the future. If the puppies are good, I might want to do 4-5 different litters over time. If they aren't, I'll probably scrap it. I've heard some people say 1 straw = 1 breeding and I've heard 3-4 straws = 1 breeding.

If you do a collection, they will do a post thaw test and tell you how many straws were created and how many you should use per breeding (usually 2-3). Then you can decide whether to do more collections. You will likely get multiple breeding per ejaculate, how many varies considerably.

ditto to what above said, plus how many straws per breeding will depend on how concentrated the ejaculate.....I would recommend having the dog collected and a semen sample analyzed prior to deciding whether or not to go to the expense of freezing him. This will also give you an idea of his collectability, and ejaculate concentration in addition to semen fertility (motility and morphology of the sperm).

The more concentrated the ejaculate will determine how the semen can be diluted with extender, thus how much will fit in a .25cc or .50cc straw.

The question I have is what is the average cost of having the dog collected and semen stored? Also, availability of shipping, etc? Does is benefit an owner to have their own nitrogen shipping container (a local store sells them) or is it best to let the storage facility handle this?

Can't tell you the cost of collecting and storing, but can tell you that maintaining a semen tank on your own is taking a bit of a risk with your investment if you have the option of having a private facility (animal genetics company or vet office) maintain it. Unless you have an easy source of liquid nitrogen to refill the tank, or get a regular delivery service, keeping the tank filled can be an issue. Also transporting liquid nitrogen tanks can be hazardous in a closed vehicle, which would make having the semen stored where you will have the bitch bred much easier.

Most places offering storage will have insurance policies and have trained employees and protocols in place which will "hopefully" insure appropriate management of your investment.

Unless you have access to someone who is very familiar with semen tanks, or a dairy farmer with a regular visit from their AI company which will manage their tanks for them, can't imagine that the risks out weigh the benefits to have maintain your own tank.

LSU is 300-400 to collect and test,also included is the first year of storage, then its 70 dollars a year no matter how many straws you have.

Marlene,
I've looked at a few of the reproduction specialist in the area, and the one I"m going with is priced as follows:

2- 4 Straws $165.00
13 – 16 Straws $ 255.00
5 – 8 Straws $195.00
17 – 20 Straws $ 285.00
9 – 12 Straws $225.00
21 + Straws $ 315.00

Yearly storage fee is $70.00

This is a flat rate that includes the evaluation, storage, test thaw, etc. Tank rental is $60/week and the last time I brought frozen semen in I just paid a large deposit that was returned once the tank was returned.


Sample price sheets:
http://www.rosecityvets.com/docs/PriceSchedule_Semen.pdf

Here is the fee schedule from the ICSB clinic I use, out of Portland, Oregon :

ICSB Fees

ICSB Fees and Discounts for Processing Canine Semen for Freeezing and Storage

FILE PREPARATION $45.00
SEMEN STORAGE $72.00
(annual storage fee for each group of 30 vials or less; one vial is one insemination.)
SEMEN COLLECTION, EVALUATION, FREEZING $200.00
(Includes up to four vials stored. If the collection yields more than 4
vials, each additional vial stored is $60.00)


TOTAL BASE FEE $317.00

VISA • MASTERCARD • AMEX • MONTHLY PAYMENTS (OAC)


DISCOUNTS
(May not be available at all ICSB centers)
MULTIPLE DOGS-SAME OWNER
Two dogs - 5%
Three dogs - 10%
Four or more dogs - 15%