I have a couple of options but am not sure what to do.
I have found a used Spermacue in good shape for $2,200 US. Found a used spectrometer for $220 US or can go with a brand new Quik Check from Exodus for $1,500 US (including everything needed).
I'm leaning towards the new Quik Check as I like the idea of setting it up with my computer and being able to use just straight raw semen. I know a lot of people have the Spermacue's but, to me, sounds like the Quick Check is the better deal at $700 US less, brand new and with all the additional bells and whistles.
Several years ago we ran a research project wherein we evaluated and compared a variety of "mechanical" sperm counters - including the ones you mention - against the results obtained with a hemacytometer (a manual microscope slide counter that is recognised as being accurate). We collected 6 stallions daily for 21 days, and each ejaculate was counted twice using the hemacytometer by three different people. The results indicated that at any time any of the "mechanical" counters could be indicating as much as a 20% difference in counts when compared to the hemacytometer. In other words, as far as accuracy was concerned, when compared to the hemacytometer, there was no unit found to be more accurate than any other.
A spectrophotometer will need to be calibrated specifically for counting semen - not hard to do, but essential. Colorado State University was at one time offering a calibration service for these units, but I am unsure if they still do.
When freezing semen - where accuracy is essential - we use the hemacytometer to obtain our counts. When shipping cooled semen (or for on-farm use) where accuracy is not so critical (there is a greater margin of error in those situations), one of the mechanical counters is fine. Of the units you mention, we prefered the Quick Check, as not only does it use raw semen, but it also does some of the basic calculations for shipping volume/ratio, which is very convenient (and as you note, it is a lot cheaper than the Spermacue!).
If cost alone is factor then the hemacytometer is the way to go - at around $120-150 it's considerably cheaper than any of the other units! It is however more time-consuming and tedious than the "mechanical" units. Exodus Breeders has some good hemacytometers that have excellent clarity.
As long as there are no scratches or damage to the etched grid (if it's a used one you're looking at), this will serve you OK. It's not necessarily the best one, but it's not the worst.
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