DeGraff Stables

We offer stallion owners the opportunity to freeze their stallions for domestic or international shipments. Currently certified with the European Union as a Frozen Semen Storage Facility and seeking recertification by the USDA for the countries of Australia, New Zealand and the European Union, our technicians strictly adhere to the protocols that are required to provide a consistent quality product to the stallion owner and the mare owner. 

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USDA International Approved Quarantine Facility

Semen for export is frozen in sessions during the months of July to the end of December. Please contact us well in advance if you wish to freeze semen for export from your stallion so we can have the stall space available. Requirements for semen freezing for export are specific for the importing country and generally require 30 days of quarantine at the lab and a set of specialized blood tests and cultures. Semen for domestic use can however, be frozen while the stallion is completing his quarantine, thus maximizes the stallion’s time at the breeding farm. Additional expenses over usual freezing charges can be expected on a bank of semen frozen for export, depending on the destination country and the number of straws. These additional charges are for the blood tests, cultures, special semen extenders, paper work, and veterinary calls. Import permits and health papers are no longer required for stallion semen shipments (frozen or chilled) going into Canada from the USA. Any frozen stallion semen of USA origin, regardless of when it was frozen, is eligible for export to Canada.

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Semen Collection

Typically semen is collected every two to four days; and depending on the stallion’s sperm production an average of 5 to 15 straws can be frozen per collection. Some stallions with large testes can produce 15 to 30 straws per collection. One straw can be one insemination dose when it contains a minimum of 300 million progressively motile sperm cells post thaw. We recommend supplying 2-3 straws of frozen semen per heat cycle per mare; and for booking purposes, sufficient semen should be on hand to cover a minimum of two cycles per mare.

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Efficient Distribution Services

Frozen semen must be maintained properly. The frozen semen is maintained in numerous high capacity, cryogenic containers. The liquid level of all the tanks is measured weekly and nitrogen added as needed and to maximize container holding time. Monitoring nitrogen evaporation rates allows our personnel to detect in advance a tank which is losing holding time and replace it before any of the valuable semen it contains is in jeopardy.Our distribution services eliminates the scheduling problems typically associated with shipping cooled semen. Once the mares are booked, our experienced professional staff handles all the details of the shipments and breedings. Mare owners or their veterinarians may contact us directly to arrange shipments or we can process shipment requests directly from the stallion owner. Our staff will provide technical assistance as needed and with proper notice we are able to process the orders so that semen is shipped the same day as the request is received. The nitrogen shipping containers, housed in special protective plastic shipping cartons are sent via FedEx or similar carrier. Each shipment contains detailed information including post-thaw semen quality and handling and thawing instructions. Also available upon request are sterile non-spermicidal insemination kits, any expendables such as inseminating guns, straw cutter, or thermometer for thawing as needed by the mare owner’s veterinarian may be ordered to shipped with the semen.