Clinic of large animal reproduction
Contact
The clinic of large animal reproduction consists of two teams. One team is specialized in equine reproduction and obstetrics with drs. Jan Govaere as head of the unit. The other team, takes care of the reproduction and obstetrics in cattle under supervision of Prof. dr. Geert Opsomer, together with the group of cattle health.
Equine
As a University clinic, we can provide all the facilities that are needed to cover all aspects of equine reproduction and obstetrics. Under surveillance of specialists in animal reproduction, every patient will be treated with the highest level of care and knowledge.
Artificial insemination and embryo-flush
During the breeding season (February – August) mares can come in for a breeding soundness examination and/or to be inseminated with fresh (cooled) or frozen semen.
Embryo-flushes can be performed as well. In case there is an embryo, it can be sent to a preferred center with recipient mares or the embryo can be transferred in a recipient mare provided by the client.
Problem mares
Mares that are not easy to get in a foal are a challenge for us. Those mares will obtain the time and the attention they need to make sure we can apply an adequate treatment.
Birth surveillance
Every year, around 150 pregnant mares are brought to our clinic to foal down under veterinary guidance. Also mares with difficulties during parturition at home can come in as an emergency 24/7.
OPU ICSI
From September to April you can offer your donor mare to have in vitro embryos produced through the OPU ICSI procedure. The entire procedure from OPU to ICSI (whether or not followed by embryo transfer) takes place in our clinic. In the OPU ICSI FAQ you can find more information, should you have any more questions please feel free to contact us:
Stallions
Our equine semen lab is fully equipped to collect and analyse semen and also to prepare the semen for cooled transport. The collected semen can be processed for cryopreservation as well, our lab has a national and European license. As a ‘last resort’, epididymal semen can be harvested and processed for cryopreservation. Moreover, our staff is very experienced in the training of young stallions to learn them to have semen collected on a dummy.
Artificial reproduction techniques
Thanks to a wonderful collaboration with our research team and the specialized lab of the reproductive biology unit (RBU) we stay up-to-date with all the ‘new’ techniques such as ovum pick-up and intra-cytoplasmatic sperm-injection. It was already in 2009 that our first ICSI foal was born.
Cattle and other ruminants
Parturition surveillance and caesarean section in the Belgian Blue
Every year around 300 Belgian Blue cattle come to the clinic for parturition surveillance and caesarean section.
Lambing period
From February onwards, sheep are also regularly brought to lamb at our clinic, under veterinary supervision. When a normal parturition is not possible, we have all the facilities to proceed to a caesarean section.
Difficult births
Births that do not go easily at home can be offered to us (after notification by telephone) as an emergency case. This is possible for cattle, goats, sheep and camelids (alpaca, llama, ...).
Bulls and Rams
Also, bulls and rams are presented for a (thorough) breeding soundness evaluation. An infertile breeding bull or stud ram is responsible for large economic losses.
Moreover, it is possible to collect sperm and freeze it for on-farm use.
Others
For less common disorders or problems with regard to fertility you can always contact us. These patients will receive our full attention.
Documents
Below you can find:
Don't hesitate to contact us for more information!
