Another buying semen ?

[Alan]

When I buy semen does it always come in a cane? no matter the amount of straws purchased 1 or 10? I would think this will ease transfering semen.

Just to let you know with all the questions I am signed up for the Select Sires A.I. class the first part of March. Three and a half days for $350.

Thanks,
Alan

 

[Scotty]

I think most would like you to buy a cane. Ease only on them. They might mix and match some. Only way to find out is to ask.

 

[Alan]

I think most would like you to buy a cane. Ease only on them. They might mix and match some. Only way to find out is to ask.

From what I'm reading, it sounds like you only have about 10 seconds to transfer the semen from the shipping container to your tank. I'm not real familiar with canes, but it seems like putting 5 straws in a cane while tranfering them to your tank would take more than a few seconds. Just trying to figure out the transfer thing, thanks for the help.

Alan

 

[Sage]

The best way if you want less than 10 straws is to see what your local breeder uses and might have a partial cane, or if they will transfer a cane and use what you need then transfer it back. Individule straws can be transfered but the risk involved(exposure) really doesn't make it a good solution.

 

[Alan]

After reading a little closer and getting my memory jarred. The question is does the semen come in a goblet so I can clip it into a my cane quickly. I'm also assuming buying 5 straws of 5 different bulls is not too small of an order.

Alan

 

[Sage]

Goblets arn't used anymore to my knowledge, maybe still on some real old semen? Generally semen comes in 1/2ml straw(1/4ml for sexed semen) 10 straws per cane (5 on top 5 on bottom). I have never tried to order a half of a cane, I will need to find out. You nitrogen tank should have canisters that the canes just drop into.

 

[Alan]

Goblets arn't used anymore to my knowledge, maybe still on some real old semen? Generally semen comes in 1/2ml straw(1/4ml for sexed semen) 10 straws per cane (5 on top 5 on bottom). I have never tried to order a half of a cane, I will need to find out. You nitrogen tank should have canisters that the canes just drop into.

My tank has six canisters. so when you order semen you order a full cane, 10 straws? does the 10 straws come in a cane?

Alan

 

[Sage]

yea, the cane is about the size of a large ink pen, a little longer. They hold 10 straws 5 on top and 5 on bottom. The top of the cane will have a tab with the bulls number.
eg 29AN1523 is Bon View New Design 878. All breeds have different letter designation - AN Angus, AR Red Angus, HH Horned Hereford, PH Polled Herefored and so on.

 

[txag]

again i think this will depend on where you buy your semen. occasionally, you'll see a minimum order on units of semen for certain bulls. there's usually no problem ordering less than 10 straws, and they'll still be shipped in a cane. when it arrives, just transfer the whole cane to your semen tank from the shipping container. the canes will be labelled with numbers, not bull names, so either keep your shipping papers or keep a note of which bull corresponds to which cane so you don't have to pull out individual straws later on to try to read the info off the straw.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

txag is correct. No matter how many straws you order - (most will only sell minimum of 5) they will be in "cups" attached (snapped onto) to canes (two cups per canes, 1-5 straws per cup). One cane per bull.
All you have to do is take one cane at a time & transfer to your tank. Like he said - keep track of the NUMBERS!!! and where you put them.
You can pick up the cannisters up to the "frost" line in the tank neck, they are low enough that they will not "thaw" and high enough for you to read the numbers on the top of the canes (after the steam dissipates). It's easier if you have someone else ready to lift the cannister in your tank up to the frost line of your tank, ready for the new cane, and immediatly drop it down.

 

[dun]

txag is correct. No matter how many straws you order - (most will only sell minimum of 5) they will be in "cups" attached (snapped onto) to canes (two cups per canes, 1-5 straws per cup). One cane per bull.
All you have to do is take one cane at a time & transfer to your tank. Like he said - keep track of the NUMBERS!!! and where you put them.
You can pick up the cannisters up to the "frost" line in the tank neck, they are low enough that they will not "thaw" and high enough for you to read the numbers on the top of the canes (after the steam dissipates). It's easier if you have someone else ready to lift the cannister in your tank up to the frost line of your tank, ready for the new cane, and immediatly drop it down.

The "cup" is a goblet. Some studs (ABS for one) use a preformed manufactured right into the cane type of goblet, but it's still a goblet.
Unless you get into the big bulk tanks that use the bucket type of storage system, straws are on canes within a goblet. Ampules were/are clipped directly to the cane, magic wands are loose and just stuck into the canister.
Inventory is an important part of proper semen handling. You need to know how much of what and where it's at or you can damage a lot of semen hunting through the tank.

dun

 

[bigbull338]

an most importantly keep a written inventorty of what cains an how meny you have on ea bull.because you can keep several differant cains of bulls in ea canister.so keep a list of what bulls are where.an never throw away your ampules till youve recorded wich bull you bred to wich cow.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

an most importantly keep a written inventorty of what cains an how meny you have on ea bull.because you can keep several differant cains of bulls in ea canister.so keep a list of what bulls are where.an never throw away your ampules till youve recorded wich bull you bred to wich cow.

Lets not confuse him. Ampules are small glass vials. This is the way they USED to freeze semen. Now it is in straws. IF you purchase a really OLD bull and it comes in ampules - you best make sure your AI tech knows how to use them - or warn him to bring the right equipment for amps.

 

[Alan]

Things are clearing up, thanks for all your help.

Alan

 

[bigbull338]

an most importantly keep a written inventorty of what cains an how meny you have on ea bull.because you can keep several differant cains of bulls in ea canister.so keep a list of what bulls are where.an never throw away your ampules till youve recorded wich bull you bred to wich cow.

Lets not confuse him. Ampules are small glass vials. This is the way they USED to freeze semen. Now it is in straws. IF you purchase a really OLD bull and it comes in ampules - you best make sure your AI tech knows how to use them - or warn him to bring the right equipment for amps.

im from the old school so i refer to them in the old terms.dont meant to confus any1.just trying to save him from making misstakes every1 makes a few times in their life.

 

[Sage]

Thank you bigbull & JEanne, I had gotten goblets and ampules confused, too many nitrogen vapors or too few hours of sleep.

 

[C HOLLAND]

Alan, I do know that select sires will sell you 1 straw of any bull they offer, I purchased 3 of one and 4 of another the last time I purchased some from them. The best way to buy semen is probally from a local rep if you have them in your area. The problem is they don't carry the same bullls and you have to deal with several or get them shipped to you.

 

[Bobg]

Alan, I do know that select sires will sell you 1 straw of any bull they offer, .

The minimum must be determine by different reps, my Select Sires rep will only sell me a minimum of 5 straws of each bull. He won't mix and match.

Bobg

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Evidently SEK Genetic Horizons & Cattle Visions will also sell broken canes, because I occasionally get paid for unusual number of staws.

 

[El_Putzo]

My Select Sires rep will only sell in packages of 5 as well.

However, my experiences with Cattle Visions and Jim Reed have been that both will sell as few as 1 straw of most bulls. I say most because I'm thinking there are some bulls that require a minimum order of 5 straws.

These have been my limited experiences.