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ARBA AI Policies

Policies and Positions From The ARBA Artificial Insemination Committee

The Alternatives to Natural Breeding of Romney Sheep

  1. ARBA stand on artificial matings
  2. ARBA Rules and Regulations for Semen collection, Importation and Usage
  3. Clarification of Semen Import Requirements Listed in 2001 ARBA Protocol for Semen Collection
  4. Semen Collection Form

Before beginning a collection or importation contact the Association Secretary for details.

There is no current embryo transfer protocol or collection form established by ARBA. Before beginning any transfers a protocol will need to be established.


Committees are created by and report to the Board of Directors. Please refer to the ARBA Committees page for the list of current AI Committee members.


ARBA stand on artificial matings in 1998

The ARBA endorses the use of artificial matings by any member to improve the Romney breed of sheep through the use of registered Romney rams and/or Romney ewes which are within the ARBA breed standard. Animals used should be proven natural breeders, free of genetic defects and of quality genetics.

The use of these artificial techniques must comply with the ARBA rules and regulations and may not hold the ARBA Association in any way liable.

ARBA should be involved in artificial mating as follows:

  1. ARBA should know what genetics are in use.
    a. What semen/embryos are collected, stored, and used in the USA.
    b. What semen/embryos are imported, stored, and used in the USA.
  2. ARBA should be able to track artificial mating progeny.
  3. ARBA should collect fees to cover any extra paper work required.

1/1998


Clarification of Semen Import Requirements Listed in 2001 ARBA Protocol for Semen Collection

The donor ram for semen must be listed in the flock book of the country of origin. The current flock book for Natural Colored Romneys in New Zealand is the Purebred Romney Section of the Black and Colored Sheep Breeders Association of New Zealand, Inc. (BCSBA). Current requirements , as understood by ARBA, in New Zealand for registration and export include the following:

  1. The breeder must be a member of the BCSBA of NZ and have their flock registered in the current purebred Romney section of this flock book. The individual animal must have a single entry registration number in the purebred section of the BCSBA of NZ.
  2. The sheep must pass an inspection by an inspector from a BCSBA purebred flock and an inspector from the White Romney Breeders Ass. of New Zealand. Upon passage of this inspection, the animal will be issued an Export Certificate #.
  3. The sheep must be quarantined/tested in accordance with the protocol of the USDA.

Natural Colored Romneys presented for registration to the ARBA will be accepted only in accordance with ARBA protocol and this clarification. The donor animal’s N. Z. registration numbers will be checked for compliance with BCSBA purebred section records.

4/2001


RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SEMEN COLLECTION, IMPORTATION AND USAGE (UPDATED JUNE 2018)

COLLECTION AND IMPORTATION

  1. Donor animal must have a single-entry registration number within the relevant purebred Romney association or section in the country of origin.
  2. Donor must meet all current export protocol of the origin country’s relevant Romney association, if collected outside the USA.
  3. The animal must meet all current rules and regulations for export from the country of origin, if being exported.
  4. The sheep must be quarantined and tested in accordance with current rules and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture, if being imported.
  5. It is advised to send a copy of the ARBA Semen Collection Form and a copy of these Rules and Regulations to the owner of the ram(s) prior to the ram(s) arriving at the collection center.
  6. Rams must be Brucella ovis negative.
  7. Collection must be made by a veterinarian or qualified technician. His or her signature is required on the ARBA Semen Collection Form.
  8. The semen must be packaged in ampules or straws, each of which are permanently marked with the name, breed, and individual identification number of the donor and the date of collection.
  9. Semen collection forms must be completed and mailed with payment of application fee ($25) to the ARBA Secretary within 60 days after collection or importations. (ARBA secretary will then forward the application to the AI committee for review. After the review the secretary will contact the member with the results and if approved the secretary will inform ASR of the approval for registration processing.) This form must be completed to the satisfaction of the Association. Fees for forms received after these time periods or for incomplete forms shall be $50.
  10. ARBA requires submission of the following forms:
    a. ARBA Semen Collection Form
    b. A copy of an appropriate USDA importation form, if imported.
    c. Both sides of an Export Certificate, if imported from New Zealand.
    d. Documentation of the original collection place and date, amount of semen collected, name of the technician or veterinarian taking the collection, and dispersal of the collection.
    e. Documentation of a negative Brucella ovis test.
  11. An ARBA registration certificate will be issued (from ASR) after all required paperwork is submitted. One registration per ram, not per unit of semen.
  12. All Romneys presented for registration in ARBA will be accepted only in accordance with ARBA protocol.

TRANSFERS

  1. Transfers are to be recorded when any semen changes ownership.
  2. The transfer of ownership fee is $5.00 per transaction (not per unit of semen) for members and $11.00 for non-members if the transfer is presented to the ARBA Secretary within 60 days of sale date. If transfer is presented after 60 days, the transfer fee is $9.00 for members and $15.00 for non-members. As determined previously, either the buyer or the seller is responsible for transfer fees.

PROGENY of AI

  1. Registration certificates for artificial mating progeny will state AI after the flock name and number. Example: Smith 0204 AI.

Sample Semen Collection Form

Contact the Secretary for the current mailing address.

A sample copy of the Semen Collection Form is linked below so that you can see the information that is required. Anyone interested in collecting semen should contact the ARBA Secretary before collection to ensure proper paperwork is prepared and procedures are followed to meet ARBA’s standard for registration.

Semen Collection Form

Transfer of Semen Form


Page updated: 07/02/2021

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