We keep in liquid nitrogen, at −196 °C, the semen frozen here, as well as straws left over from a season and doses bought from or brought back from other centres.
Before you come
Every shipment leaves with the signed agreement of the owner of the straws, which you give online from your client area.
How is semen stored?
The straws are immersed in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C. At this temperature, cells no longer age, and well-frozen semen keeps for decades without losing its fertility.
Nitrogen evaporates slowly, even in a closed tank, so the tanks must be refilled regularly.
Every batch is recorded in our inventory, with the stallion's identity, the collection date, the post-thaw quality and the health status that determines where it may travel.
How do the doses travel?
Doses are sent by carrier in so-called dry shippers. Their wall absorbs the liquid nitrogen, which therefore can no longer spill, and the cold holds for the length of the journey. These containers comply with IATA air transport rules.
No shipment leaves without the agreement of the owner of the straws, given for each shipment. For a shipment within the European Union, we draw up the health certificate, which the AFSCA must then validate. Depending on the destination, or ahead of a long weekend, this validation can take a few days. It is best to let us know early.
We fit many of our shipments with a tracker, which lets you follow the parcel in real time. Transport nevertheless remains in the hands of a carrier, and the semen then leaves our supervision. Our general terms and conditions therefore exclude our liability for delays, customs holds or damage during transit.
Before collecting straws
EU-approved centre BF10/01 National authorisation AER/NAM/010454
A straw keeps its right to circulate only as long as it stays within the network of approved centres. The AFSCA, the Belgian food safety agency, is clear on this point.
A straw handed over to a breeder leaves the commercial circuit for good. It may then only be used on the breeder's own mares, with no resale or transfer, even free of charge, and can never return to a centre. A dose transferred to a national storage centre, for its part, loses its European status permanently.
If you wish to store your doses yourself, you can apply for a storage authorisation for national trade, or for approval as a storage centre for intra-EU trade. We can help you through these procedures.
What if a tank fails?
It is rare, but it can happen. A tank has two walls separated by a vacuum, which insulates it from outside heat. If this vacuum is lost, the tank loses its insulating capacity, the nitrogen evaporates much faster than expected, and straws can be lost.
The storage fee covers tank maintenance and nitrogen. It cannot cover the value of the semen, which varies enormously from one stallion to another, and Article 5.4 of our general terms and conditions limits our liability accordingly. For a valuable stallion, we recommend insuring the stock and shipments with the company of your choice.
Prices
Storage is free during the year in which the semen was frozen. A storage contract then takes over.
| Storage fees | 5,23 € | Frozen semen, per 100 straws from the same stallion and per month. Beyond 500 straws from the same stallion, flat rate. |
| Preparation fees | 34,87 € | Preparation of a semen batch and drafting of the administrative documents. |
| AFSCA health certification | minimum 72,67 € | Health document for intra-community trade in frozen semen. |
| Delivery costs | on quotation | Depending on the destination. |
| Cryotainer preparation | 62,07 € | Pre-cooling of your container. |
| Liquid nitrogen, per litre | 1,77 € | Partial refill of your container. |
Stallion services are invoiced by Linalux Equins, veterinary care by Dr Paindaveine.
Frequently asked questions
How long does semen keep?
For decades, as long as the nitrogen is maintained. The quality of a straw is decided at freezing, not during storage.
Can I entrust you with straws produced at another centre?
Yes. We also store straws bought from or brought back from other centres. To keep their European status, they must come from an approved centre, with the required health documents. Talk to us before shipping them, and we will check together.
Entrusting your stallion's semen
To place semen in storage or arrange a shipment, call us.