"In the second of a two-part series on equine artificial insemination, Liz Falkingham looks at the benefits to both stallion and mare of AI and the ways to maximise chances of success.

END House Stud, Gisburn, home to Trudy Goulding and her family, stand a number of stallions that are available for both natural service and AI, as well as offering an AI clinic for mares wishing to use semen from other stallions.

Trudy has seen an increasing number of clients requesting AI from her stallions, rather than using natural service.

"Funnily enough, a lot of these clients are middle-aged women who don't like the idea of their mare being covered naturally. It makes you wonder," she jokes, but adds on a more serious note that many owners are concerned for mare safety, particularly those mares with existing back problems, for example.

The stud works with the Dalehead Veterinary Group to offer AI services and has seen great interest in the specialist clinic set up at End House for visiting mares. Vet Michael Davies says that owners need to be aware, however, not all mares are suited to AI.

"You sometimes hear people cast doubts on using it for maiden mares but I don't see that as such a problem and have used it successfully on my own maiden mares. Really, age, previous breeding history and whether the semen is frozen or not are the biggest factors to take into account, he says."

"ARTIFICIAL insemination in horses has taken considerable steps forward in recent years, with studs now able to achieve 80 to 100 per cent conception rates with fresh, chilled and frozen semen.

"Past difficulties with AI, particularly frozen semen, have meant the science is still considered an expensive and unreliable alternative to natural service. As experience and knowledge has grown, however, equine AI has become a more realistic option for breeders both large and small looking to source the very best genetics from around the world."

Extracts from the Farmers Guardian 22-28 June & 6-12 July 2001