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PURPOSEFUL AND RESPONSIBLE BREEDIN G

Balancing the Budget chilled or frozen semen? Experienced stud dog owners will be
able to provide you with a copy of the results of a semen analy-
From stud fees to pre-breeding reproductive exams, as well sis, and if AI, they should also be able to tell you how well it
as specialized nutritional needs for the brood bitch and the pup- transports fresh chilled or frozen.
pies, there is much to include when calculating the bottom line. The report should show a desirable sperm count of 250 million
Stud fees may range from $500 to $5,000, depending on a mul- sperm cells or more per ejaculate. The raw motility and extended
titude of factors. motility (normally reported as the percentage of sperm that appear
A successful breeder to demonstrate normal
does not under-value the movement when exam-
importance of a pre-breed- “The money spent (somewhere between ined under a microscope)
ing health exam, espe- $100 and $750) on a reproductive health are critical considerations
cially if the breeder has exam prior to breeding can save you when transporting semen
reason to believe that the much more than money should the litter for insemination. An ejac-
bitch could have problems be lost while the bitch is in whelp.” ulate with a normal motil-
conceiving or if she has ity of 70% is considered
previously failed to de- good. Information on the
liver living puppies. Ac- semen’s morphology (the
cording to Dr. Milan Hess, percentage of sperm that
DVM, a Board Certified appear to have a normal
Reproductive Specialist shape) should also be pro-
and Diplomate to the vided. An ejaculate with
American College of The- normal morphology of
riogenologists, “A pre- 80% is considered good.
breeding health check will If the brood bitch has
confirm that the brood previously experienced
bitch is in good overall any difficulty or if you ex-
condition and healthy pect some level of diffi-
enough to conceive and culty, you should seriously
deliver a litter, but it also consider a natural breed-
includes an examination ing to a stud dog possess-
of the reproductive tract,” and “The money spent (somewhere ing a high fertility rate. Whether conducting a natural breeding
between $100 and $750) on a reproductive health exam prior to or opting for artificial insemination, it is important to time the
breeding can save you much more than money should the litter ovulation with the semen delivery in order to maximize the
be lost while the bitch is in whelp”. Here are just a few of the chance of conception.
associated costs that should be planned for vaginal cytology,
$25 to $50; luteinizing hormone testing, $50 to $100; proges- Being Purposeful
terone (quantitative) testing, between $65 and $150. “An ultra-
sound pregnancy diagnosis will cost the breeder between $100 Breeding purposefully means staying focused on your goals
and $200”, said Dr. Hess, “and if necessary, a caesarean section and what’s important, and not letting yourself get distracted.
will add $500 to $3,000 (depending on the time of day and That is becoming more difficult in a society which is increas-
whether the surgery is performed by a general vet or at a spe- ingly designed to distract us. Distraction are obstacles to achiev-
cialty hospital) to the cost of producing the litter”. ing our breeding aims.
These costs do not even include eye and heart checks or an Purposeful breeding requires that you ask yourself, “Why am
OFA hip evaluation. “Hopefully, health testing is done. We have I breeding?” Having very specific expectations for the puppies
so many tests now that hips, hearts and eyes are just a drop in born in the litter will guide you in making a realistic selection
the bucket,” added Dr. Hess, and “Eye evaluations can typically when it comes to choosing a sire that will give you the size, con-
be performed at health clinics for $40 to $50. Heart evaluations formation and temperament, etc., you desire in the puppies.
may run $50-$400 depending on the need for an echocardio- The number one mistake that many breeders make is focusing
gram, and hip radiographs cost $200 to $500 depending on the to much on the potential sire’s show ring win record. Please do
size of the dog and the need for sedation.” not forget that your bitch is contributing the other half of the
genes that will determine the quality of the puppies. Highly suc-
After the Why and Who cessful breeders consider the traits of conformation, tempera-
ment, intelligence and health in both the sire and dam.
You must determine, How? Specifically, a natural breeding It is important to remember that age can be an important factor.
or by artificial insemination. If AI, then will you use fresh “On average, the reproductive performance of a bitch generally
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