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JENNIFER CASWELL
Neonate
Username: Jkcaswell
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 12:02 am: | 
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Hi there everyone, this is my first posting here, though I have been lurking for quite awhile. This board is very informative.
I am currently managing a 3 year old stallion. The facility we are currently located at, has all the lab equiptment needed, but we are building a new facility, which will be completed by Jan. 1st. I need to have a design for the lab, breeding room and mare barn ready by Sept 1st. Where to begin, I have no idea, and any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Let me say, we are starting from scratch, from building to setting up a lab.
Luckily, the colt is a very good breeder and as of the last breeding, we were able to collect him without a mare. I have handled alot of stallions successfully, for live cover, so this collecting is a exciting adventure for me. I have been working along side our breeding vet, and he has been a huge help as far as preparing and inseminating, and he makes me figure out all of the calculations, though he does it himself also, and we cross reference. So far, we have bred 6 mares at home, and shipped to 2 mares, and everyone has gotten in foal on the first cycle of breeding. In January, I will be going to Colorado State, for even more valuable learning.
As far as Lab Equiptment goes, there is so much to chose from, and so many fun items, though I don't know how necessary some of these pricey items are. I really want one of the video microscopes, for learning more than anything. I also want a really good densimeter, that does it all, for those days when time is an issue. I am also going to get the Hectometer, and learn how to do it myself and more accurately. I think I have more wants, than really needs right now. I have no spending budget, which makes it easy to get all the wants, but at the same time, I don't want to waste someone elses money. I really want to do everything correctly and make everything run smoothly. Our plan by next spring is to have 10-15 farm mares to breed, and then we will ship to a maximum of 5 mares.
So, any ideas would be soooo appreciated. Thanks in advance |
Bozo
Weanling
Username: Bozo
Post Number: 76
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:18 am: |
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The Colorado State University course is an excellent course with lots of hands-on, but it does have one failing in that it is a little myopic in how it teaches you to do things. You will come away from the course with the impression that you need to spend about $10,000 in order to set up your lab, and that there is really only one supplier to get things from (and the impression that interestingly, the only equipment that works is the stuff from that supplier!!!). I would certainly not say don't go, but there are some other courses out there that will give you a broader view of getting set up - the guys at Equine-Reproduction.com (this web site) put on a great course - (click here for their course page) - and is an excellent example. The lecturers will explain both equipment that you NEED, and that you may WANT, but also how to make do without some of that equipment - or even how to build it yourself fairly economically. We took their course several years ago, and loved it (you will come away with information overload!!  ), and it helped us tremendously when we were getting set up to ship semen and breed on-farm. In fact, we're intending to go again, as they update the information regularly with new stuff, and on top of that, I think we'll learn even more the second time around as well!!! |
JENNIFER CASWELL
Neonate
Username: Jkcaswell
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 04:23 pm: |
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I have benn contemplating attending the Equine Reproduction course as well. I have heard wonderful things about each of them. I am one of those people who when I decide to do something, I am going to do it right and responsibly. I have been doing so much research, and the best I have found so far, is from all of you wonderful people on this board.
The lab that I currently am "borrowing", is fully equipted, with everything. Alot of the spendy items, we have never used, though I am curious, if time would ever permit. I know I will need a good incubator(any size suggestions and brands?)a good microscope, a slide warmer, a semen counter(any suggestions) a water bath-for those we have to collect now days, and all of the other necessary items, syringes, slides, pipettes etc etc. I already have the AV and Equitainers. Need to get the Phantom, we are going with the same contour style he is used to and palpation stock(any suggestions). I am not sure what would be a good dimension for the Lab, our current one is small, about 8 x 10, and between the counter, freezer, refidgerator and the sinks, it's hard to move around if there is more than one person in there. I would like it to have a access door to the collection room and AI room, both of these areas will be seperated as the only thing I want in the collection area is the phantom and a wash area and possibly a large built in the wall cabinet for storing needed items.
Thanks again for everything |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 1458
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 10:57 pm: |
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Check out the articles section of this web site - there are several articles there on what is required for setting up an AI operation. Also follow the links to the suppliers that appear at the foot of this page (there is one there for stocks - J.L. Smith), as they have been hand-picked by us at Equine-Reproduction.com as having good quality products at reasonable prices, and also good customer support. |
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