IMPORTING FROZEN SEMEN FOR USE IN NEW ZEALAND

FACT SHEET

 

For those contemplating importing and using frozen horse semen into New Zealand, there are several protocols that are required to be met to ensure that the resulting foal can be registered with the NZAHBS.

This is particularly important when importing semen to bred a purebred Arabian foal.

IMPORTATION:

1. Having selected your offshore based stallion, ensure that the semen has been frozen to meet New Zealand criteria. Copies of New Zealand criteria for frozen semen are available from MAF Equine in Wellington or the Maf website: www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity . Protocols vary from country to country. For example, semen frozen for Australia in the UK does not always meet the criteria for New Zealand.

• Import permits for semen from Australia/UK/USA/European Union countries are no longer required.

1. Contact MAF in Wellington or access the information via their website: www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity and follow the links for imports. Kerry Mulqueen is in charge of this department. Phone 04 498 9625. Fax 04 474 4132.

1. Bear in mind that not all stallions freeze (i.e.semen remains viable and motile after thaw) and that not all operations engaged in collecting/freezing/storage and shipping frozen semen are reliable. As a rule of thumb when contemplating buying frozen semen, ask three questions:

• How many mares? (i.e. how many mares have been bred to him using frozen semen)
• How many cycles? (i.e. how many cycles did the mares go through before a positive test was obtained)
• How many pregnancies? (work out the ratio yourself – if the stallion was bred to 15 mares and only two got in foal, ask why. It is not always the fault of the technician
• Avoid being the guinea pig. It can be expensive and soul destroying.

• Stallion services (via frozen semen) are sold in a variety of ways. Some require full payment up front, with no guarantees of pregnancy or live foal guarantee. Others require a percentage (sometimes 20% up front) with the balance payable on 45/90 day positive test. Again, with no guarantees of live foal guarantee. Make sure you ask on what basis your stallion owner is selling the semen. You will need to know that he is DNA’d in the country of registration so that when it comes time to register the resulting foal, you have been provided with a service certificate, and proof that his DNA is recorded in country of domicile.

• If you are buying the semen via an agent (i.e. not the owner of the horse but an agent for product), ensure that the agent is able to meet all the criteria required for registration including signing authority for stallion returns and A1 permits/reports etc.. If the semen is already in the country, ensure that the “agent” has full signing authority.

GETTING THE SEMEN TO NEW ZEALAND

1. Getting the semen from offshore to New Zealand requires a special container (tank) filled with liquid nitrogen or a dry shipper. The liquid nitrogen (tank) container requires a dangerous goods permit which will be obtained by the person handling the shipment at the other end.

1. Clearances for the semen to ensure that it has met the MAF (or equivalent) protocols at the country of origin are also required before the semen can travel. These will accompany the shipment and will be checked by MAF (NZ) on arrival. If the required paperwork is not correct, the shipment may either be impounded or delayed for clearance, or at worst, impounded and destroyed as being unable to meet NZ MAF protocols.

1. Providing it is not tipped and the contents spilled, a liquid nitrogen container can last up to 10-14 days in transit. It is a very sturdy container and is the method preferred for shipment. A dry shipper contains very little dry nitrogen and has a much shorter viability i.e. 5-7 days. It is also lighter, smaller and likely to be tipped by freight handlers.

1. Try to liaise with a stud or vet who is bringing in shipments of frozen semen and share the costs involved. If you are shipping the semen as an individual, World Couriers in Auckland are recommended as very capable in this work.

1. Costs of shipping will be yours from the time the paperwork is raised at the other end. These charges will include all paperwork charges, courier fees, airfreight, MAF clearances, customs clearances etc. There will also be customs GST duty to pay on the shipment on arrival in NZ and this is calculated on the declared value of the shipment.

1. Once you have cleared the shipment from Customs/MAF etc. it will need to be taken to a stallion semen storage facility or your veterinarian for transfer from the container that it arrived in. This container will have to be returned (again at your cost). There are no requirements by MAF to be met on this return, simply deliver it to your shipping agent/international courier company with a cheque and return address.

Frozen semen from internationally based stallions opens a virtual supermarket of choice to the mare owner and stud breeder. By checking with the stallion owner/supplier of the semen, before you enter into a financial arrangement, the importation procedure should be relatively trouble free. Failure to ensure all facets of the procedure are covered, can be both expensive and in the worst case scenario, heartbreaking when the shipment is confiscated and destroyed.

Please note: information contained within the document is current as at the time of publication (15 November 2004) but can be subject to change without notice.