From Lorenzo’s Desk

Lorenzo Frers | RSG Head of Laboratories

RSG Fresh Boar Semen: Quality Standards & Storage Guidelines

Our Quality Commitment

At RSG, we combine rigorous science with meticulous care to deliver world-class reproductive products:

• Rigorous Testing: Every sire ejaculate undergoes comprehensive quality testing for concentration, volume, viability (% alive), and motility.
• Premium Extension: Raw semen is extended using specialized long-life extender in medical-grade sterile water, providing buffering, energy, and antibiotics for maximum shelf life.
• Superior Concentration: Our product is packaged under ultra-high sanitary conditions at 30 million sperm cells per ml—50% higher than the industry standard of 20 million/ml.

Shelf Life & Viability

We retain two samples from each production batch for quality monitoring at 24- and 72-hours post-production. Random sampling up to 5 days consistently shows excellent results:

• Viability: Over 40% alive
• Motility: Over 3 on a 1-5 scale

Our fresh boar semen can be confidently used for up to 4 days after processing with no detrimental fertility effects. On some Boars we have not seen any changes up to 5 and 6 days after production. Please get in contact with us for recommendations if you are willing to store the samples longer than 3 days after production.

Critical Storage Requirements

Optimal temperature: 17°C

• Boar sperm remains viable with minimal metabolic activity at this temperature, conserving energy and extending shelf life up to 7 days (though fertility declines after day 4).
• Never refrigerate – Temperatures below 15°C cause cold shock and irreversible membrane damage.
• Avoid heat – Temperatures above 22°C accelerate metabolic activity and reduce shelf life.

Best Practice:

1. Remove product from courier chilly bin upon arrival.
2. Store in a clean, dark, cool room or cabinet.
3. Monitor temperature with a thermometer to maintain ~17°C
4. Keep away from direct sunlight and warm environments.
5. Rotate tubes daily: Rotate tubes morning and night (AM/PM).

• Labels up during the day
• Labels down at night

This provides an easy visual check to confirm staff have completed the rotation.

Questions? We’re proud of our product and happy to help with any technical inquiries.

IVP in Sheep and Goats: A New Opportunity for Genetic Progress

Javier Balladares | RSG Reproductive Technician

RSG is working with Trans Ova Genetics in the USA to bring in vitro embryo production (IVP) technology to sheep and goats in New Zealand.

So, what is IVP and how does it work?

IVP allows embryos to be produced from eggs (oocytes) collected from a valuable ewe or doe and fertilised in the laboratory using selected semen.

One of the key parts of the process is Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up (LOPU). Using a laparoscope, eggs are collected directly from follicles on the ovaries. Unlike conventional MOET programs, LOPU does not require the donor to be stimulated with FSH.

This means that, under an appropriate program, oocytes can potentially be collected from the same donor approximately every three weeks, without repeated hormone stimulation. This provides an opportunity to make much greater use of the genetics of elite females.

After collection, the oocytes are matured and fertilised in the laboratory. The embryos are then grown for several days before suitable embryos are transferred into synchronised recipient females.

The process:

LOPU → Egg maturation → Fertilisation → Embryo development → Embryo transfer → Pregnancy

For farmers, the potential benefit is simple: more embryos from your best females, more quickly, helping to accelerate genetic progress within your flock or herd.

IVP is already being performed in small ruminants in the USA, and RSG is working with Trans Ova Genetics towards bringing this technology to New Zealand.

We will share more information as the project progresses and the availability of the service in New Zealand becomes clearer.

Healthy Calves, Happy Clients 

As calving season continues across New Zealand, we are excited to be receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from clients about the performance of RSG New Zealand embryos.

Breeders and farmers are reporting smooth calvings, healthy calves, and excellent results throughout the season. From embryo production and pregnancy establishment to successful calvings, the RSG and Trans Ova system continues to demonstrate its ability to consistently deliver high-quality embryos and strong outcomes from start to finish.

The arrival of healthy calves with minimal issues reflects the quality of our program and the confidence our clients continue to place in RSG New Zealand.

Thank you to our clients for sharing these successes with us. We look forward to celebrating many more healthy calves as the season continues!

Account Payment Reminder

As we prepare for another busy breeding season, we kindly ask clients with outstanding invoices to arrange payment as soon as possible.

Keeping accounts current helps our team continue delivering the high level of service and support our clients expect from RSG New Zealand. If you have any questions about your account or outstanding balance, please reach out to our team. We are happy to help.