Has anyone in NA used Zardin Firfod? How was the semen?
I can answer that. Apparently the fresh semen does not work well, so would not try frozen. A group of us fell in love with Zardin Firfod at the Oldenburg Stallion Parade a couple years ago. He came highly recommended by the breeding director. But apparently, his fresh semen was not great, so then became “not recommended” because of that. Too bad, really nice stallion. I ended up buying a Zardin Firfod filly as I did not want to take the breeding risk.
A beautiful filly she is too. You should put a link to her picture Nancy!
Thanks for the info, Nancy. Bummer. Isn’t he at Schockemoehle’s now? I would think if anyone could get his semen problems straightened out, they could (assuming the problems are fixable).
I do not think Zardin Firfod is there anymore. He is not on the 2012 Breeding List.
http://www.gestuet-peterhof.de/en/the-horses/zardin-firfod.html
Gestuet Peterhof has frozen semen listed. So maybe check with them. I know someone that wanted to breed a few of her German based mares to Zardin Firfod Spring 2011 and was told the fresh was iffy so she decided against trying. Though the fresh semen obviously did the job for the 2012 Zardin Firford/De Niro/Hill Hawk xx filly I know own.
Zardin Firford is sitting on Paul Schockemohle frozen semen page right as we speak. Scroll to the bottom. http://www.schockemoehle.com/en/service-station-stud/breeding-stallions-2012/frozen-semen/
I also concur that if anyone was able to straighten out a problem with the freezing of semen, it would be Schockemohle team. They’re excellent at what they do. I would suggest you speak directly to them. They won’t lie to you and will tell you the straight goods regarding the stallion’s semen.
There are new products coming out all the time for the purposes of freezing semen. This is why Celle also tested a new process/product for Hochadel and were able to successfully get a mare in foal with his frozen.
Thanks for the information. He is a lovely stallion and I would seriously consider breeding to him if his frozen proves viable.
[QUOTE=rodawn;6625390]
Zardin Firford is sitting on Paul Schockemohle frozen semen page right as we speak. Scroll to the bottom. http://www.schockemoehle.com/en/service-station-stud/breeding-stallions-2012/frozen-semen/
I also concur that if anyone was able to straighten out a problem with the freezing of semen, it would be Schockemohle team. They’re excellent at what they do. I would suggest you speak directly to them. They won’t lie to you and will tell you the straight goods regarding the stallion’s semen.
There are new products coming out all the time for the purposes of freezing semen. This is why Celle also tested a new process/product for Hochadel and were able to successfully get a mare in foal with his frozen.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, I am getting in touch with them. 
Cool! Wil you let us know what they say, DownYonder? 
[QUOTE=DownYonder;6626354]
Thanks, I am getting in touch with them. ;)[/QUOTE]
Did you contact them? What response did you get?
No, I have not heard anything definitive yet. My contact was checking on the status and was going to get back to me, but there was a lot going on in Germany about that time, so it probably slipped his mind. I will try again. :winkgrin:
I contacted Christoph Hinkel directly with specific questions about this stallion’s semen quality and fertility. They were not able to resolve the semen issues so they have not continued standing the stallion there. They have not yet updated their website. Here’s the email in its entirety:
Because of his bad semen quality he left our station after one breeding season again.
mit freundlichen Grüßen/best regards
Christoph Hinkel
Hengsthaltung GmbH
Münsterlandstr. 51
49439 Mühlen
Just what I heard. Fresh was bad so can not even fathom trying frozen.
Additional info from Christoph Hinkel - the stallion was frozen for export while he was at Shockemoehle’s, but the semen never reached the “normal/average” standard.
