Ballybrown Fertility Centre

Ballybrown Fertility Centre offers a full range of specialized reproductive services from fertilisation to birth. Services include assisted reproductive techniques for our non-thoroughbred clients as well as reproductive evaluations for infertility, pre-breeding or pre-purchase.

In addition to examinations for routine breeding soundness and infertility, our vets are experienced and equipped to successfully manage all the steps in the assisted breeding process: from preparing your mare for artificial insemination with fresh, chilled or frozen semen to timing the artificial insemination – utilizing low dose or deep horn insemination techniques if required.

Why use artificial insemination?

Artificial Insemination (AI) greatly increases your possible choice of stallion. You can choose a stallion from anywhere in Ireland or abroad without having to travel your mare great distances. Many popular stallions are only available by AI.

AI has success rates comparable to natural service, and the detailed veterinary attention mares receive means those with fertility problems may be more likely to conceive.

Frozen semen is not advisable for mares over the age of fifteen or with fertility problems.

Pre Breeding Check

We would advise that all mares have a pre-breeding examination. This consists of a cervical swab and ultra-sound examination, checking for infection and other conditions of the uterus and ovaries.

Insemination Procedure

The mare needs to come to us when she is properly in season. You may need to have her scanned by your vet, to tell what stage she is at in her reproductive cycle. Once at the clinic the mare’s ovaries and uterus will be scanned. Growth of the follicles and uterine changes will be monitored closely.

At insemination the mare is given a drug that will help her follicle ovulate at a predictable time-typically between 24 and 48 hours after the drug has been given. This allows semen to be ordered for the day following the drug injection.

After she has been inseminated with chilled semen, the mare will be rescanned the following day to check that she has ovulated as planned and to treat any inflammation in the uterus following insemination. Some mares are prone to fluid accumulation in the uterus after insemination and they may require additional treatment.

Our Packages

Mare Reproductive Services

  • Breeding soundness examination
  • Pre-purchase evaluation
  • Infertility evaluation
  • Hysteroscopic evaluation
  • Removal of endometrial cysts
  • Artificial insemination with chilled or frozen semen
  • Twin reduction
  • Foetal Sexing
  • Monitoring of High-Risk pregnancies.
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Veterinary packages for AI

  • Mares should arrive at the clinic in season, having been examined by a vet.
  • Mares on foal heat are not suitable for frozen A.I.
  • Mares older than 15 years are generally poor candidates for frozen A.I.
  • Mares with poor breeding record (barren for two or more years) are generally poor candidates for frozen A.I.
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Artificial Insemination Pricing

The AI Package Includes:

  • Repeat ultrasound examinations-four times daily. This is to determine the ovulation time.
  • Cervical swab culture and sensitivity.
  • Cervical swab and microscopic smear analysis.
  • Oxytocin injections, as required.
  • Administration of ovulating hormone.
  • Post insemination uterine ultrasound (Fluid Check).
  • Post insemination uterine lavage (Where required).
  • Post insemination uterine antibiotic irrigation (Where required).
  • Caslick’s/stitching.
  • Keep for up to four days.
  • Semen storage as required.

The package does not cover fees associated with clinical problems for example;

  • Uterine inflammation/infection.
  • Persistent dioestrus. (prolonged heat)
  • Any non-reproductive clinical problems.
  • Keep for longer than 4 days.
  • After 4 days keep charged @ €15 a day.

Frozen Semen

The advantage of Frozen Semen is that the semen is ordered in advance and stored in a liquid nitrogen tank at our clinic, so it is available whenever required. However, once thawed the semen does not maintain its fertility, so the mare must be inseminated within 6-8 hours of the actual time of ovulation.

This means more intensive veterinary input with ultrasound examination at least 4 times daily to monitor the ovaries. We use a technique called deep intra-uterine insemination to deposit the semen as close to the tip of the uterine horn as possible.