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Genetic Salvage

The unexpected death of a mare or stallion can be devastating. Genetic salvage provides the opportunity to preserve the genetic material of your animal immediately after death.

You may also select to perform this procedure after elective surgical removal of the testicles (castration) or the ovaries (ovariectomy).

Mare

Post-mortem oocyte recovery is a way to preserve the genetics of a mare and produce embryos even after her death. Oocytes (eggs) can be harvested immediately after death or euthanasia and sent to a laboratory for fertilisation.

The process involves transporting the ovaries to our lab for oocyte recovery. In the lab, each follicle (the structure containing the oocyte) in the ovaries is flushed and scraped multiple times to retrieve the oocytes. The retrieved oocytes are then processed and prepared for shipment to a fertilisation lab, similar to ovum-pick up (OPU). To maximise success rates, ovary removal and oocyte collection should be performed within 6h of death or euthanasia.

What can influence the recovery rate and the embryo production?

  • Number of follicles present in the ovaries.
  • Reason for death
  • Intrinsic fertility of the mare and the chosen stallion.

On average, it is expected one pregnancy to be achieved for every 20 oocytes harvested under optimal conditions.

Emergency Euthanasia: Ideally, some advance warning is necessary to prepare for the procedure, when the mare is sick and most likely will need euthanasia. This preparation is often required to meet health testing and logistical requirements for exporting oocytes. In certain emergency cases, the procedure may still be possible, depending on the circumstances.

Stallion

Genetic salvage in stallions is possible through castration and harvesting the sperm immediately after death or euthanasia.

The process involves transporting the testicles to our lab for sperm recovery. In the lab, the epididymis (the structure next to the testicle that stores sperm) is flushed with semen extender to collect sperm. The collected sperm is then processed and frozen, following similar procedures to those used after a live semen collection. To achieve the best results, castration and sperm collection should occur within 12 hours.

What can influence the semen quality after death?

  • Reason of death: testicles are highly sensitive to heat, so conditions like fever or inflammation before death may reduce sperm quality.
  • Age, testicular size and ejaculation frequency
  • Intrinsic fertility of the stallion

In reproductively normal stallions, the procedure has a high recovery rate if proper castration methods and shipping timelines are followed.

Healthy stallions

Epididymal sperm collection can also be performed electively during the castration of a healthy stallion. This option allows owners to preserve the stallion’s genetics while addressing stallion’s behavioural concerns through gelding.