Advanced Breeding Services
At South Wales Farm Vets (SWFVs) we are pleased to offer a number of advanced small ruminant procedures for sheep and goats. These are all fantastic options to help bring in new genetics within a flock/herd (eg by using bought in semen) and to quickly disseminate favourable characteristics/genetics (eg by embryo flushing). We also offer semen freezing to help preserve genetics and act as insurance for tups.
Our Advanced Breeding facility for sheep and goats is open from late February through to early December. More information on our services is below, but please contact us to discuss your requirements.
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Laparoscopic artificial insemination (LAI) uses keyhole surgery to inseminate ewes efficiently, requiring less semen. It enables genetic improvement, synchronized lambing, and supports embryo flushing.
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We offer an excellent service for sheep embryo transfer in South Wales. With a dedicated laboratory and accommodation for super ovulation of donor ewes.
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We offer dedicated long-term storage using liquid nitrogen, keeping semen and embryos indefinitely. We also accept shipments from other vet practices for storage and use.
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Flushing donor ewes can be highly rewarding but requires careful management. Key factors include maintaining good health, optimal body condition, proper nutrition, stress minimization, and strict adherence to the flush programme. We also offer a donor ewe programming service for added support.
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A fertile ram is crucial for flock success. At South Wales Farm Vets, we offer comprehensive fertility assessments to ensure breeding confidence and optimize lambing. Exams are done at our center or on-farm.
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South Wales Farm Vets provides all necessary hormones for ewe and doe synchronisation. To avoid supply issues, we recommend booking and ordering well in advance.
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AI In Sheep & Goats In South Wales
- Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination
Laparoscopic artificial insemination (LAI) involves key hole surgery to directly inseminate a ewe or does uterus. This means a smaller amount of semen is required to achieve fertilisation. Its benefits are:
LAI can be carried out with both frozen and fresh semen
The use of frozen semen allows new genetics to be brought into a farm without having to purchase a new ram/buck
One jump of fresh semen can be put over 40 ewes allowing for a tight lambing period to one ram
It is a cornerstone of inseminating donor ewes for embryo flushing
Laparoscopic AI Planner
Getting your head around synchronisation for AI can be difficult. Download this spreadsheet and input your ideal lambing date. The sheet should reload with key dates for the synchronisation programme. These dates are a guide and a personalised programme will be created for you.
Sheep Embryo Transfer In South Wales
We offer an excellent service for sheep embryo transfer in South Wales. With a dedicated laboratory and accommodation for super ovulation of donor ewes.
Embryo Transfer Planner
Getting your head around embryo flushing can be difficult. Download this spreadsheet and input your ideal lambing date. The sheet should reload with key dates for the synchronisation programme. These dates are a guide and a personalised programme will be created for you.
Sheep MOET
(Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer)
Embryo Flushing
Embryo flushing requires a donor ewe to be superovulated with a personalised flushing programme. We can supply all the hormones for the programme for you to do this on farm or the donor ewes can stay with us and we can carry out the programme for you.
Come insemination day the AI can be done with fresh or frozen semen in the same process as the laparoscopic AI described on the laparoscopic AI section.
The flushing procedure is routinely done to collect between Day 5 and Day 7 embryos. On average you would expect 5 implantable embryos per donor ewe. These numbers can be variable with some ewes giving very large numbers and some none at all. At SWFVs we will work with you to try and improve flushing results by alteration of flushing programmes and AI timing.
We have the ability to freeze embryos in our onsite laboratory for domestic use.
Embryo Transfer
At South Wales Farm Vets we have the ability to implant both fresh and frozen embryos (whether they were frozen by ourselves or another practice).
Implantation of embryos involves partial key hole surgery, similar to that of laparoscopic AI. The recipient ewes are synchronised and implanted 6 days post oestrus. We can implant both singles and twins. See our page on Recipient Selection (hyperlink) for more information.
Improving Flushing Results
Flushing donor ewes has the potential to be a very rewarding process, albeit it can also be a very disappointing one. These are some pointers that may improve success rates:
Ensure donor ewes are of good health and have had any vaccinations well in advance of starting a flush programme
Ensure ewes are of an appropriate body condition for their breed (2.5-3.75), aim for fit not fat. Ideally on a rising plane of nutrition going in to the programme and this continues through the programme.
Minimise stress during the flush programme.
Correct any trace element deficiencies before the programme starts eg selenium
Follow the flush programme injections exactly, the timings are important! If you think you will struggle with the programme contact us for clarification. We do also offer a donor ewe programming service where your ewes stay with us for the entire programme.
Use Regulin 60 days before ET programme
Use teaser rams to improve oestrus detection
Semen Freezing In South Wales
At SWFVs we have our own dedicated embryo and semen storage. As they utilise liquid nitrogen we can technically store semen and embryos indefinitely.
We regularly have semen and embryos sent to us from other vet practices for storage and insemination/implantation. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Semen Freezing
Pellets
At South Wales Farm Vets we freeze ram semen in pellet form. These can be graded into two categories:
P2 Pellet – This contains enough motile sperm to inseminate two ewes and is the most common form on pellet semen available.
P1 Pellet – This historically is a pellet of poorer quality semen which has been downgraded from a P2 to a P1. It contains enough motile sperm to inseminate one ewe
Freezing Process and Results
Ideally we collect semen using an artificial vagina and a teaser ewe. This method improves semen quality. Some rams however do not perform (see training below) and we may resort to use of electro ejaculation which carries a small amount of risk.
Semen will be analysed post collection (further jumps may be required depending on quality of semen). This semen is then extended and chilled, it is reassessed throughout this process. The semen is then frozen in 0.25ml pellets and stored in liquid nitrogen. A pellet will then be thawed from that batch and analysed.
We take every effort to maintain semen quality, however each process can affect this. Some ram semen requires differing concentrations of extender to preserve semen quality. This can take some trial and error, with multiple jumps required.
Ram Training
Some rams are keen to work, others are more timid with someone in the pen. Get your ram used to being handled and used to having someone in a pen with him. If possible having a ewe haltered in the pen for him to mount etc while someone is also in the pen is the ideal training.
Improving Flushing Results & Recipient Selection
Flushing donor ewes has the potential to be a very rewarding process, albeit it can also be a very disappointing one. These are some pointers that may improve success rates:
Ensure donor ewes are of good health and have had any vaccinations well in advance of starting a flush programme
Ensure ewes are of an appropriate body condition for their breed (2.5-3.75), aim for fit not fat. Ideally on a rising plane of nutrition going in to the programme and this continues through the programme.
Minimise stress during the flush programme.
Correct any trace element deficiencies before the programme starts eg selenium
Follow the flush programme injections exactly, the timings are important! If you think you will struggle with the programme contact us for clarification. We do also offer a donor ewe programming service where your ewes stay with us for the entire programme.
Use Regulin 60 days before ET programme
Use teaser rams to improve oestrus detection
AI with both fresh and frozen semen – sampling of lambs to prove progeny for DNA is possible
Recipient Selection and Management for Embryo Transfer
After the involved process of flushing a ewe to harvest embryos we want to give those embryos the best chance of becoming a positive pregnancy and a viable lamb. By selecting and managing recipients appropriately we can help increase the implantation success rate.
When deciding how many recipients to programme for implantation bear in mind the expected number of embryos (average 6 per flushed ewe), whether they are to be implanted as singles or twins and that not all of those programmed will cycle accordingly.
When considering implanting embryos as singles vs twins strongly bear in mind that if a ewe does not hold or loses the lambs we may be losing two embryos rather than one. The saying “all your eggs in one basket” comes to mind.
Selection
The ideal recipient would meet the following criteria:
Have lambed successfully before with no complications eg a caesarean section
Be able to rear a lamb ie good udder
Be in a good body condition but not fat, ideally on a rising plane of nutrition
Be cycling (see management section) – some breeds cycle through the year eg Dorsets so can make ideal recipients for out of breeding season recipients.
Management – Pre-Programme
Ensure the following management tasks are completed before beginning the programme.
Recipients are up to date with Enzovax and Toxovax as required. No closer than 4 weeks before the implantation date.
Any potential trace element deficiencies are rectified, utilisation of a multi trace element drench may be beneficial. Selenium deficiency is associated with poor fertility in the ewe.
Utilisation of Regulin before beginning the programme can aid recipients to cycle out of season.
Keeping recipients away from rams before starting the programme and utilisation of teasers during the programme will aid synchronisation and cyclicity
Management – Post-Programme
Post implantation be consistent with the management (as it was before starting the programme). Consistent with feeding and no sudden changes. Avoid stress, moving ewes and handling procedures unless necessary for the ewes welfare for 1 month after implantation.
Some post implantation stressors are unavoidable eg hot weather and can vastly affect implantation success. Ensure recipients have shade and water access.
Teaser/Ram Post Implantation
Your programme will give a date post implantation (normally a week) for you to add a raddled ram/teaser to the implant group. Monitor the recipients for raddle to indicate a return to oestrus and an unsuccessful implantation. Record the ewes which repeat and report this back to us as we can correlate it with our records.
Improving Flushing Results
Ram Fertility and Vasectomies
Ram Fertility Assessments
Having a fertile ram is key for commercial and pedigree flocks, whether you’re carrying out Advanced Breeding procedures or not.
At South Wales Farm Vets we can carry out full ram fertility assessments, including semen analysis. This can give confidence in stock you have bought or are selling, help investigate poor scanning rates and ensure you are using fertile rams to condense lambing windows and avoid disappointment come AI time.
For ease we tend to carry out these exams at our centre but we can do them on farm. We tend to use an EEJ but if required can jump rams over a synchronised ewe.
Vasectomies
Having a teaser tup will help compact the lambing period and they are used in most advanced breeding programmes to detect oestrus.
An ideal teaser is well grown (fit not fat) and has reached puberty. We frequently turn rams which fail fertility assessments into teaser tups. Ideally we do not want to be performing vasectomies any closer than 6 weeks before their intended use, so planning is key.
Hormones
South Wales Farm Vets can provide all the hormones associated with synchronisation and Advanced Breeding in ewes and does. Occasionally circumstances outside of our control will influence supply issues so we strongly recommend booking and ordering drugs well in advance of programmes starting.
Please contact us for current pricing and advice on administering the following:
CIDR Ovis®
A T Shaped intravaginal device containing 35mg progesterone the CIDR Ovis is used to synchronise and advance oestrus in ewes/does. It typically stays in for 12 days where PMSG is given at the devices removal.
Chronogest® Sponges
A “classic” intravaginal sponge containing 20mg progesterone the Chronogest Sponge is used to synchronise and advance oestrus in ewes/does. It typically stays in for 14 days with PMSG given at the devices removal.
Synchropart® Sponges
A large intravaginal sponge containing 0.45g progesterone the Synchropart sponge is available by special import. It is used to synchronise and advance oestrus in ewes/does but is mainly utilised in larger ewes and those undergoing MOET procedures.
PMSG Intervet®
One bottle contains 5000IU of Serum Gonadotrophin. Used to drive ovulation post CIDR/Sponge removal. Dosages vary depending on season, breed, body condition and farm. The datasheet dose is 500IU or 2.5ml.
A pack contains a freeze dried pellet and sterile water. The two need to be mixed before use and need to be kept refrigerated.
Regulin® Implants
An implant containing melatonin administered by a special implant gun in the skin behind the ear. It is used to aid advancement of the breeding season.
Pluset®
A mainstay hormone of the MOET procedure. Each ewe will be given a personalised programme with decreasing levels of this hormone given. The timings are vital and so is the dosages to improve success rate. These can be given on farm by yourself, alternatively we provide an at centre superovulation service.
Similar to the PMSG, a Pluset pack contains three bottles. Two freeze dried pellets and one bottle of sterile water.