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CHILLED NOT FROZEN PLEASE!    
Many years after the death of a great sire, successful pregnancies can result.
By Dr. Edmond Oettlé
Newfoundland breeder Adrian Battey, owner of the 1999 KUSA National Dog of the Year,
Ch and UK Ch Merrybear Einar (Imp UK), has reason to celebrate after his bitch successfully delivered six puppies
born through artificial insemination (AI) with chilled semen imported from the UK. AI has been performed in dogs
for many years, with good success.

However breeders may occasionally want to use a dog which lives overseas. In such instances, the breeder may use
either frozen or fresh, chilled semen. The former is useful for protecting the genes of the sire against time; many years
after the death of a sire, successful pregnancies can result. The fertility, however, is considerably lower than
fresh semen artificially inseminated. As an alternative, breeders may import fresh, chilled semen. This procedure
has been performed before in many countries, with varying degrees of success.

In essence, the semen is collected as for normal AI, and then diluted and cooled to five degrees Celsius.
In this state, it remains viable for about two days, and may be transported over great distances by air. Timing is
therefore critical. The co-ordination between the stud dog owner and the bitch owner must be excellent.
This bitch is monitored as for a frozen semen AI, that is blood progesterone and vaginal smears are monitored
every two days until the day before she is due to be inseminated. The semen is then collected, chilled and shipped
to arrive on the most fertile day of her cycle. Of course, all the necessary documentation
(import/ export permit and certificate of health) must be obtained well in advance. If all goes well, good fertility
may be obtained. Mr. Battey's Newfoundland was impregnated at the first attempt.		 Artificial insemination using chilled semen: UK Ch Merrybear Einar.
 
Article by Dr. Edmond Oettlé
As published in ANIMAL TALK magazine (SA) - February 2000.		  
See our Smooth and Cream Chow Chow Puppies born from artificial insemination using imported semen. 
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