Has anyone noticed a difference in pregnancy rates using a 3 straw dose or a 6-8 straw dose? The 3 straw dose would be a full dose not a split dose. I know this will mean different stallions but I am curious about the # of straws and the pregnancy rate. Thank you.
[QUOTE=bluemoonfarms;5783490]
Has anyone noticed a difference in pregnancy rates using a 3 straw dose or a 6-8 straw dose? The 3 straw dose would be a full dose not a split dose. I know this will mean different stallions but I am curious about the # of straws and the pregnancy rate. Thank you.[/QUOTE]
The number of straws per insemination dose is usually determined at the time of freezing and is based on what the post thaw motility is in order to attain a certain number of progressively motile sperm per insemination dose. Hence the huge variation in the number of straws. With a young stallion or a stallion recently frozen, the fertility is typically unknown and consequently, it may start out with a higher number of straws for an insemination dose. If he proves to be uber fertile, subsequent freezes/shipments may be with a lesser number of straws.
We breed a significant number of mares with frozen semen and it typically isn’t the number of straws that we see a difference in pregnancy rates with. And yes, there is a HUGE variation from stallion to stallion on how they freeze and what their post thaw is going to look like. Occasionally, we’ll look at the semen and think there’s no way on earth the mare will get pregnant, only to check 14 days later with a pleasant surprise.
Hope that helps!
I understand all that you are saying. I also have seen a trend in my own personal breeding and have spoken with others that have had similar experiences. I am just wondering what others have experienced with the different # of straws. Definitely not a scientific thing just a trend that I have seen. 
Certainly not an expert by any means, but I think Hohenstein may be one example where it helped to increase the number of straws per dose. From what I understand, there wasn’t much success with his frozen until JY convinced the stallion station to increase the number of straws per dose - and now they are getting more pregnancies.
