Semen Inventory Management
When you're managing frozen semen from multiple stallions across multiple storage locations, you need to know exactly what you have, where it is, and when it expires. Manual tracking with spreadsheets leads to lost doses, expired inventory, and confusion about what's been used.
BreederHQ tracks semen inventory at the dose level with complete chain of custody from collection through use.
The complexity of semen inventory
Managing semen inventory involves multiple moving parts:
- • Multiple stallions - Each with different quality characteristics, collection frequency, and demand.
- • Multiple storage types - Fresh (hours), cooled (days), and frozen (years) with different handling requirements.
- • Multiple locations - Semen stored at your facility, at a collection center, or shipped to distribution centers.
- • Quality tracking - Not all batches are equal. You need to know which batches have the best quality for your most important breedings.
- • Expiration management - Cooled semen expires quickly. Even frozen semen has recommended storage limits.
- • Chain of custody - Who received what, when, and for what purpose? Especially important for shipped semen.
Without proper tracking, you lose visibility into one of your most valuable breeding assets.
Collection Recording
Log every collection with complete details from the moment semen is collected.
Collection Details
- • Collection date and time
- • Collection method (AV, manual, electroejaculation)
- • Collection facility
- • Technician/collector name
Initial Assessment
- • Volume collected
- • Raw concentration
- • Initial motility assessment
- • Processing notes
Processing & Storage
- • Storage type (Fresh, Cooled, Frozen)
- • Total doses created
- • Extender used
- • Freezing date (if frozen)
Storage Location
- • Storage facility
- • Tank identifier
- • Rack/canister position
- • Goblet/cane number
Quality Tracking
Not all semen batches are equal. Track quality metrics so you can make informed decisions about which batches to use for which purposes.
Quality Metrics
Concentration
Sperm count per milliliter. Higher concentration means more sperm per dose, which can improve conception rates.
Motility
Percentage of sperm actively swimming. Critical for fertilization success. Track pre-freeze and post-thaw motility for frozen semen.
Morphology
Percentage of normally-shaped sperm. Abnormal morphology can reduce fertility even with good motility.
Excellent Quality
High concentration, >60% motility post-thaw, normal morphology. Use for your highest-priority breedings or premium AI shipments.
Good Quality
Adequate concentration, 40-60% motility post-thaw, mostly normal morphology. Standard breeding quality.
Fair Quality
Lower concentration or motility (25-40%). May require double-dose insemination. Use before it degrades further.
Poor Quality
Below viable thresholds. Consider discarding or use only for low-priority situations where pregnancy isn't critical.
Inventory Dashboard
See the status of your entire semen inventory at a glance. Know what you have, what's running low, and what needs attention.
Inventory Summary
- • Total available doses across all stallions
- • Doses by storage type (Fresh, Cooled, Frozen)
- • Per-stallion inventory breakdown
- • Active batch count
Usage Statistics
- • Year-to-date doses used
- • Doses shipped vs. used on-site
- • Usage by stallion
- • Monthly usage trends
Alerts & Warnings
Expiring Soon
- • Batches expiring within 30 days
- • Visual urgency indicators (red/yellow)
- • Quick action to use or discard
Low Inventory
- • Stallions below threshold levels
- • Collection scheduling reminders
- • Demand vs. supply tracking
Dispensing & Chain of Custody
Every dose has a destination. Track where your semen goes with complete chain of custody from tank to use.
Dispense Types
Breeding (On-Site)
Semen used at your facility for a breeding. Links directly to the breeding attempt record.
Ship to Mare Owner
Record recipient name, address, carrier, and tracking number. Complete shipping documentation.
Transfer to Facility
Move doses between your storage locations. Track where inventory is at all times.
Sample Testing
Quality analysis on stored batches. Post-thaw checks, longevity testing, etc.
Discard
Expired, damaged, or substandard doses. Document reason for disposal.
Shipping Details
- • Recipient name and contact
- • Shipping address
- • Carrier (FedEx, UPS, Counter-to-Counter)
- • Tracking number
- • Ship date and expected arrival
Audit Trail
- • Complete history per batch
- • Who dispensed, when, and why
- • Linked breeding plan (if applicable)
- • Timestamps for every transaction
- • Notes and documentation
Breeding Plan Integration
Semen inventory doesn't exist in isolation. When you log a breeding attempt using AI, connect it directly to your semen inventory.
How It Works
- 1 Create a breeding plan for your mare/stallion pairing
- 2 Log a breeding attempt with AI (fresh, cooled, or frozen)
- 3 Select the specific semen batch used from your inventory
- 4 System automatically decrements the dose count
- 5 Breeding attempt is linked to the batch for traceability
Inventory to Breeding
Know which batch was used for each breeding. Track conception rates by batch quality. Identify high-performing batches.
Breeding to Inventory
From any breeding record, see which semen was used. Important for foal registration and pedigree verification.
Know Exactly What You Have
Dose-level tracking. Quality metrics. Storage locations. Expiration alerts. Chain of custody. Breeding plan integration. Complete visibility into one of your most valuable breeding assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track semen from outside stallions?
Yes. Track semen you own from outside stallions the same way you track semen from your own stallions. Record storage location, quality metrics, and usage. When you use it for breeding, the system links to the appropriate stallion record.
How does dose-level tracking work?
Each batch is recorded with a total dose count at collection. As you dispense doses-whether for breeding, shipping to mare owners, testing, or discard-the system automatically decrements the available count. You always know exactly how many doses remain per batch.
What quality metrics are tracked?
Record concentration (million/ml), motility percentage, and morphology assessment for each batch. Assign visual quality grades (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor) for quick reference. Quality data helps you prioritize which batches to use for breeding vs. shipping.
How do expiration alerts work?
The system calculates expiration dates based on storage type: fresh semen (hours), cooled semen (days), frozen semen (years). Dashboard alerts highlight batches expiring within 30 days. You can set custom thresholds for alerts.
Can I track semen shipped to mare owners?
Yes. When dispensing semen for shipment, record the recipient name, address, carrier, and tracking number. This creates a complete chain of custody from collection through delivery. Link shipments directly to breeding attempts in breeding plans.
Does it integrate with breeding plans?
Yes. When you log a breeding attempt using AI, you can link it to a specific semen batch. The system automatically decrements the dose count and creates an audit trail showing which semen was used for which breeding.