Artificial Insemination

Delivering Genetic Improvement

Leading Edge

Klasse AI has been at the leading edge of genetic transfer through the use of AI for many years and have proved to be unrivalled leaders in the collection and processing of semen in the UK and Europe. Experience gained from building and running AI studs and breeding farms around the world, has helped to ensure our customers continue to have superior products of the highest health
status and advanced technical support.

Elite Stud Facilities

Klasse AI studs have been designed to the highest specification. All boars are housed in fully insulated and environmentally controlled buildings to minimise temperature fluctuations and maximise boar comfort and health. Straw based systems ensure compliance with the highest welfare standards in the UK. Klasse AI has substantially raised the standard of AI facilities by building the UK Gene Distribution Centres with full air conditioning, air filtration, CleanFlow boar preparation, Collectis automated collection and fully automated packaging systems. These facilities ensure animals are housed in an optimum environment to enable them to produce the highest semen quality throughout the year.

Elite Boars

Only the very best boars are selected as AI standard. They will have undergone extensive on-farm performance testing and across herd BLUP analysis, DNA testing and continual visual selections to ensure that only the top 3% of animals enter the studs.
The boars are replaced at regular intervals by new superior animals predicted to improve customer performance. This ensures that genetic improvement is maintained and customers receive the most recent genetic advances from all boar lines.

Sire Line Semen is available from four Rattlerow specialised boar lines, and Danish Duroc sirelines enabling customers to select the most appropriate genetics for their production system and carcass specification.

Dam Line Semen from three highly productive Rattlerow female lines is available for specialised breeders to operate a closed herd policy to produce prolific parent gilts on their own farms through the GENmatch programme. The studs also have Danish damline Landrace and Yorkshire available which can be supplied following the signing of a breeding agreement with DanAvl.

Biosecurity and Health Testing

The Klasse AI studs are situated in extremely isolated areas of low animal density to avoid any risk of disease entering the sites. Strict biosecurity controls covering, personnel, animals, feed, bedding and vehicle are constantly maintained. The addition of air filtration facilities helps provide the highest level of biosecurity. All supplying nucleus farms operate under strict health monitoring protocols. In addition, independent health checks prior to entry, stud quarantine and weekly veterinary monitoring combined with blood tests and PCR screening for economically important diseases all ensure that the highest health is maintained. This is of vital importance for customer farms and our own nucleus units.

Quality Assurance

The unique Klasse AI CleanFlow boar preparation and IMV automated Collectis systems help to maintain cleanliness and have shown to significantly reduce the potential risk of bacterial contamination of the semen. Every fully traceable ejaculate is thoroughly evaluated for morphological abnormalities, viability and motility before release. The use of a high quality long life extender is vital
for the maintenance of semen quality. Retained samples from each boar continue to be examined for at least five days after collection.

Klasse AI studs are independently monitored to ensure best practice is maintained and that semen is being processed consistently to maximise fertility and ensure traceability. Most Klasse AI studs are EU licensed and are all monitored under the BPEX AI Standard. The
Standard is based on best practice principles and covers more than 70 individual standards with internal and independent audit performed annually.

Packaging

Semen can be supplied in a flat pack storage bag, in the smaller and more flexible gene transfer bag (GTB) or by the AutoMate delivery system, ideal for outdoor and group housing situations. All samples are clearly labelled with the boar ID and recommended use by date. A number of differing catheters and various AI supplies can also be supplied by Klasse AI.

Frozen Semen

In some circumstances, in order to transport semen long distances with no health risk, frozen semen may be an advantage for the introduction of high value genetics. Our sister company Rattlerow Seghers has been exporting frozen semen successfully to many parts of the world and is an ideal partner for this technology.

AutoMate

AutoMate is a revolutionary all-in- one storage and insemination system available exclusively in the UK from Klasse AI Farms. Developed and produced by French AI specialist Genes Diffusion, this ‘hands-free’ system is quick and easy to use and has been shown to give better breeding performance than conventional systems. Used extensively in Europe over a number of years and with many millions now sold per year worldwide, UK producers can now benefit from this proven technology.

Simple, Safe, Convenient

In the AutoMate system the catheter and dose of semen are supplied as a single, sterile and complete, ready to use sealed unit. A latex thermo-sensitive sheath encases the rigid catheter, and the correct semen dose. Once inserted into the sow, it naturally responds to her body temperature, gradually warming the semen and activating the heat sensitive wax plug to commence the insemination process and release semen into the uterus. This more natural impregnation of the sow reduces the chance of temperature shock and the opportunity for human error.

Delivery

Semen can be delivered to all parts of the UK and abroad. Most deliveries are made in Klasse AI temperature controlled courier vans or by post in specially developed high U-value, polyurethane boxes.

Support

Klasse AI views training and support as a vital component of successful artificial insemination and AI training workshops are a regular part of this backup. Through its AI specialists and managers, Klasse AI is used to giving professional and practical help and advice backed up by many years of experience.