Purchasing & Import

Once you have decided on a stallion to use to cover your mare (whether or not you have used the WEBS selection service), we can deal with the relevant stud to get semen shipped to you, or to WEBS.

We will deal with the European studs so making it easier to import the semen. We will also deal with the import paperwork, which so often causes problems for individuals buying semen from abroad. If completed incorrectly, the semen will be destroyed by DEFRA before you are able to use it, and many studs will still expect payment in full!

Cost for import arrangement: £35.00

Shipping costs and hire of the shipping container are set by the relevant stud and are extra on top of this fee, as is the cost of the semen itself (see terms and conditions).

Semen Collection

WEBS has its own fully equipped semen collection centre, and we can use this to collect from your stallion. Generally, we ask that you bring the stallion to us (although transport can be arranged).

After his paperwork (including disease & vaccination records) has been verified, he will be examined and cleaned. He will then be led into the collection area, and can then be collected from. After collection, the semen is taken to the onsite laboratory to be evaluated, and extended as necessary. It should be noted that stallions with fragile semen and/or a low sperm count will have a bespoke extender created for them (this requires an extended semen assessment).

If the purpose of the collection is for shipping or export to another location for insemination, this can also be organised by WEBS, in conjunction with DEFRA.

“Walk-in” collection and semen evaluation: £75.00
Stallion Livery Semen Collection: £245.00 per week (includes four collections and full livery)
We can also train stallions to use the dummy: £210.00 per week (includes training and full livery)

Shipping/export of chilled semen, including paperwork, and 3 days rental of the shipping equipment: £75.00. Plus shipping fees. Equipment not returned within that time will incur a £40.00 per day rental fee. It should be noted that containers that are not returned within two weeks are fully chargeable to the client, on top of the daily rental fee.

Semen Evaluation & Storage

The WEBS laboratory is extremely well equipped, and we are able to offer a variety of semen evaluations to suit your stallion's needs. Basic semen evaluation is included in the collection process and includes measures of motility, concentration, volume and total sperm count.

A more extensive evaluation can be undertaken at an additional cost. This includes several semen collections over a two day period, all the standard tests are done plus the following assessments:

>Morphology – the structure of the sperm cells, which can help determine why a stallion may not be covering successfully

>Survivability – how well the sperm cells cope with being chilled and extended, centrifuged etc.

>Semen pH – can be extremely important in terms of fertility, and may help us make a bespoke extender for the individual stallion

>Most effective extender – there are a number of extenders available commercially, plus a number we have developed, and new ones we are currently developing. The best extender for one stallion’s semen, may be different from another stallion’s semen

>Cryopreservation – several batches of the stallion’s semen are frozen to determine the best methods for freezing and storing. This will help in keeping the sperm fertile after the freezing process.

Basic assessment cost (where WEBS has not performed a collection): £35.00
Extensive assessment costs: £95.00 plus livery at £25.00 per day (at least two days are required)

Semen Storage

We can also offer ultra-low temperature (cryogenic) storage of semen for future use or to be sold and/or shipped. If semen is to be shipped/exported, WEBS can arrange this and deal with the export paperwork, in conjunction with DEFRA.

The freezing process requires specialist equipment and can only be performed at a limited number of facilities. Semen is extended with a cryopreservative agent, and is packed into 0.5ml plastic straws which are then frozen in liquid nitrogen where they can be stored indefinitely.

Cost for freezing (per ejaculation) £25.00

Cost for storage £0.20 per straw, per month for the first 100 straws
£0.10 per straw, per month for any more straws

Shipping/export of frozen semen, including paperwork, and up to 5 days rental of the shipping equipment: £130.00. Plus shipping fees. Equipment not returned within that time will incur a £40.00 per day rental fee. It should be noted that clients will be fully liable for equipment not returned within two weeks, on top of the daily rental fee.

Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination may only be performed by a DEFRA qualified AI technician or vet, which WEBS can provide. We are happy to inseminate at your yard, or you can bring your mare to us for insemination, which may be the more cost-effective option.

After her paperwork (including disease information and vaccinations) has been verified the mare will be examined by the WEBS veterinarian and AI technician. This includes an extensive physical & reproductive examination in order to find out if she is ready for insemination. Even if this shows the mare is not ready, we can induce the release of an egg using hormones that occur naturally in the mare (although this takes several days).

Once she is deemed to be ready, she will be cleaned and sedated if necessary. She will then be inseminated with the most effective dose of semen, which will be assessed and prepared by our laboratory. After this, several scans are necessary at 14, 30 and 50 days post insemination to check the progress of the conception, which can be performed once the mare has gone home, or at WEBS if you wish to leave the mare on livery.

Cost for “walk-in” artificial insemination at WEBS: £60.00

Cost for artificial insemination anywhere: £100.00 plus transport costs. Please ring us for a quote.

Artificially induced oestrus: £35.00 + Drug costs

Long term (pregnant mare) livery: £120.00 per week. includes stabling, feed, hay, mucking out, grooming, rugging, and turn out.

Long term (pregnant mare) grass livery: £60.00 per week. includes feeding, hay, and regular checks (3 times a day).

Embryo Transfer

Many owners want to breed from their mare, but are unhappy about not being able to ride the horse during the pregnancy – especially if the mare is competing at a high level. Embryo transfer can offer an alternative route in overcoming this hurdle. It is even possible to breed from two year old fillies using this method with no detrimental effects!

Artificial insemination occurs as normal, but after a few days, the embryo is removed from your mare and implanted into another “recipient” mare. The embryo can then develop normally, and produces a foal by your mare, but using the womb of another animal.

The costs of embryo transfer are as follows:

Artificial insemination, drug-induced synchronisation of mares and embryo transfer (when using a WEBS recipient mare): £430.00 (including one week of full livery)

Artificial insemination, drug-induced synchronisation of mares and embryo transfer (when using any other recipient mare): £520.00 (including one week of full livery)

Rental of a WEBS recipient mare: £120.00 pcm

Drug treatments and veterinary costs are extra.

Natural Covering

Please contact us to discuss your requirements, and we will liase with the appropriate stud to see if this is possible.

*All prices quotes on the website are INCLUSIVE of VAT at 17.50%