Why Accurate Semen Analysis Matters in Canine Breeding
- propet
- Jan 28
- 3 min read
And why “guesswork” is costing breeders litters
In modern canine breeding, success shouldn’t rely on hope or guesswork.
Yet surprisingly, many breeders still assess semen quality by eye alone — a quick look down a microscope, a rough estimate of movement, and a “that looks fine” decision.
The problem?
Subjective assessment is unreliable.
And when you’re working with valuable stud dogs, frozen semen, travelling bitches, or tight progesterone timing… “looks fine” simply isn’t good enough.
If you want consistent conception rates and professional standards, semen analysis needs to be measurable, repeatable, and objective.
That’s where proper evaluation makes all the difference.
What should semen analysis actually measure?
A true fertility assessment goes far beyond just seeing sperm move.
Professional evaluation looks at multiple key parameters:
Motility
How many sperm are moving — and how well they move forward (progressive motility).
Poor forward progression dramatically reduces fertilisation success.
Concentration
How many sperm are present per millilitre.
Too low = reduced pregnancy rates, even if movement looks good.
Morphology
Are the sperm shaped correctly?
Head, midpiece or tail defects can prevent fertilisation.
Viability
Live vs dead sperm count.
Movement alone doesn’t always tell the full story.
Velocity & movement patterns
Speed, straightness, and track patterns help determine true fertilising potential — not just “wiggling”.
These are not things the human eye can accurately calculate.
They require digital tracking and software-based measurement.
The problem with manual microscope assessment
Traditional “by eye” checks have three big issues:
1. It’s subjective
Two people can look at the same slide and give completely different opinions.
2. It’s inconsistent
Lighting, fatigue, and experience all affect judgement.
3. It’s not measurable
You can’t confidently record numbers or track changes over time.
That makes it very difficult to:
• Compare samples
• Monitor stud performance
• Justify breeding decisions
• Provide professional reports to clients
• Or run a proper fertility service
If you’re charging for fertility work, you need evidence — not estimates.
Why more clinics are moving to CASA systems
CASA (Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis) has become the gold standard in both veterinary and reproductive practice.
Instead of guessing, the system:
✔ Tracks individual sperm digitally
✔ Calculates motility percentages automatically
✔ Measures concentration
✔ Assesses velocity and movement patterns
✔ Produces objective reports
✔ Provides consistent, repeatable results
In other words — it removes human bias.
What you get are numbers you can trust.
And that’s exactly what professional breeders and fertility clients expect.
Real-world benefits for breeders and clinics
Using a proper digital semen analyser isn’t just about fancy tech — it directly improves outcomes.
You can:
• Confirm stud fertility before mating
• Check chilled or shipped semen quality
• Assess frozen semen viability
• Monitor ageing stud dogs
• Identify subfertility early
• Provide professional reports to clients
• Increase conception rates
• Avoid wasted progesterone cycles
When each missed season costs hundreds (sometimes thousands), accurate analysis quickly pays for itself.
A complete, portable solution
For many small clinics or fertility specialists, the concern used to be cost and complexity.
Older systems were bulky and lab-based.
Now, portable laptop-based CASA systems make professional analysis accessible anywhere.
Compact. Plug-and-play. Clinic ready.
A heated microscope, digital imaging, and dedicated analysis software all working together in one simple setup.
No guesswork. No complicated lab.
Just reliable results.
Raising standards in canine fertility
The canine breeding industry is becoming more professional every year.
Clients expect better care.
Breeders expect better success rates.
And regulators expect higher standards.
Objective semen analysis is no longer a “nice extra”.
It’s becoming essential.
If you’re serious about fertility work — whether you’re a clinic, specialist, or advanced breeder — investing in proper diagnostic tools isn’t an expense.
It’s a standard.
Ready to work smarter, not guess harder?
Our CASA Portable Semen Analyser System provides everything needed for professional, accurate semen evaluation in one complete, laptop-based setup.
✔ Heated microscope
✔ Digital imaging
✔ Specialist analysis software
✔ Plug-and-play system
✔ Fully portable
⭐ Available now at:
Comments