Our original goal was to reduce shipping cost to all clients that were receiving semen by over night express systems, but we gained a lot more than reduced shipping cost. Working with Michigan State we found out that the semen withstood shipping better, motility was 10% better by day five after collection than being shipped and stored in smaller containers. Conception rates also went up using semen out of the Sembag. We also found that rotating one large bag of 20 to 30 doses was a lot simpler than rotating 20 to 30 individual doses every 12 hours.

IBS sends out semen at 6 billion sperm per dose. The recommended amount to pour out of the bag when the client receives the semen is around 85 to 90 mls per dose. From a Monday collection, you can choose your own sperm per dose by pouring out 60 mls on Tuesday or Wednesday (day 1 or 2 after collection) and you would have 4 billion plus sperm per dose and are able to pick up as many as 30% more doses. Example: 20 doses at normal rate with about 90 mls (1800 mls total) at $7.00 contract terminal bulk price. By putting 60 mls in a dose you would have a 30 doses for the same total price you paid for the 20 dose bag but your cost dropped to $4.66 per dose. Quite a savings if you could use up whole bag in those two days. On day 3 and 4 you could pour out 75 mls and have some savings, but on day 5 and 6 you need to use what we recommend on the side of the bag. This is just another reason to leave the semen in the Sembag until ready to use.

The Sembag system is really taking a hold since our introduction to our clients last fall and in the pork magazines this winter. Our clients really like the system and the savings. The dispensing system is available in a kit which includes the stand for holding the cube, the cube for holding the Sembag, and the clip for a complete shutoff after the bag tube is opened. For on farm collection the producer saves a lot of time in clean up, less bottle waste, as well as gains all the advantages the Sembag system offers.

We also introduced the new "Big Mouth" bottle last fall that has an opening about the size of a quarter and has graduations on the side to simplify pouring the proper amount. The bottles are sold individually or in case lots of 250 with a choice of three colors right now. The "Big Mouth" combined with the Sembag make an unbeatable system for on-farm or through commercial studs.