Testing bull's and ram's semen

Re: Testing bull's and ram's semen

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:40:44 GMT

Just FYI the Cox model is discontinued and will not be in the new catalogue due to be printed in the new year. The rumour mill is correct this time.

Re: Testing bull's and ram's semen

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:43:33 GMT

[quote user="Wren"]Our Electoejaculator came from Cox Agricultural[/quote]

Yes we have one of those too. Not used it for ~2 years. I'm sure I heard on the grapevine that they had discontinued the item, but I am in the process of opening a trade account with Cox so I will ask my contact. If you had some tups ('s what they call them up here) to test I am happy sending our old one down for you to see how you get on with it. You might need to buy a new battery for it.

This is a link to a PDF of the current Cox catalouge and the item is on the 4th page of the link.

I will say that I personally believe the Lane product to be superior. The Cox EEJ has circular electrodes that seem to stimulate other musculature and the tups react much more to the procedure. You also have a narrow contact area meaning that an inch either way and there's no ejaculation but lots of other muscular stimulation. The Lane model has nice long linear electrodes and concentrates the electricity down and over where you want it. Positioning is very much less crucial and I have found it much better for sample collection. Have still sampled more sheep with the Cox one to date and it does work.

On the BVA site there are some ram examination forms. We test tups along the lines of the BCVA cattle form and havn't worried about specific 'counts' more use the density as a guide. 'watery' 'milky' & 'creamy' cover the spectrum and if there are good strong swimmers all is usually well in the world. We then do a smear and stain it, Vet Direct used to do semen stains, but not sure if they still do. Egg Tech can supply.

If you want to borrow the Cox one send me a message. I can investigate batteries too.

Re: Testing bull's and ram's semen

Wren — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:21:44 GMT

Our Electoejaculator came from Cox Agricultural, although guessing by the look of the box it's in it may be a pre-Herriot model. I actually rang them last week as I wanted to source more batteries for it. I found the information in their on-line catalogue, although annoyingly I can't find it again now so I'm a bit confused.

We don't do many, and only tups, but usually take the microscope out to the farm, use a warmed slide and nigrosin/eosin stain. We have occasionally got the sample, then got the client to drive it to our nearest AHVLA lab (about an hour) in a warmed flask (hopefully not his tea flask ) where they can give a more accurate count, but since the cuts they won't do this anymore.

Re: Testing bull's and ram's semen

mariette asselbergs — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:59:08 GMT

Hi Michael,

I was sort of half expecting this sort of advise from you. You are an asset on this forum with your prompt practical advise on things! Thanks very much, we'll follow this up.

Mariette

Re: Testing bull's and ram's semen

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:41:53 GMT

Hello

We own a ram EEJ ourselves and share a bull one (that will take a ram probe) in a little local veterinary co-operative we have.I'd guess we did 1 bull to every 5 tups so it's not an issue getting hold of the bull one when needed.

Both ours are manufactured by a company called Lane in America. We imported the bull one ourselves (a Pulsator IV). The tup one is also made by Lane, but runs of a couple of 9V batteries (like you use in a smoke alarm) and seems to work very well. I think that cost around £400 which is a little on the dear side but we have it available whenever we need it. We got it via a company called EggTech who are based in the UK and had the item in stock. They can also supply the bull ejaculators and all sundries.

Give Brian a ring or an email. http://www.eggtech.co.uk/

If you need any more help, ask away. We do a reasonable bit of this stuff.