bringing semen to Canada from the US?

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kjd farms

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Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Just wondering about the ins and outs of bringing in semen from the US to Canada? With the dollar near par, the prices are way better in the south than north.  What are the legalities, etc... and anything else that can be shared.

Thanks in advance.
 

cdncowboy

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Flintoft,Saskatchewan, Canada
To do it legally - needs to be cleared for Canadian export (believe it called CSS approved).  Then you need to apply for an import permit-go to Ag Canada website will explain more.  Then whatever additional shipping charges are incurred.
Had a similar discussion to yours recently and was told that if I could get the exportable semen that the cheapest and easiest way to get it would be to piggyback it in with semen coming to one of the semen companies.  The fellow I was talking with had imported a fair size lot a couple years ago and said that it cost him around $250 for all the paperwork, etc. to bring in around 200 straws.  By piggybacking it on, for example a Semex shipment, you'd save most of that expense.
 

xxcc

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Sun River, MT
yes, the semen must be collected in accordance with CSS certification as well as with 'exportable' status from the US to wherever.  then must be shipped from 'controlled storage' to 'controlled storage', e.g. Genex/Hawkeye West in Billings, MT to Alta at Calgary.  Yes, if you can piggyback it with some, most likely Angus, semen you can get the fees prorated and save some money.
 

Bawndoh

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I am a Genex rep in east central SK.  If anybody near me (within 300 miles or so) would like some clubby semen, I can get it for you.  We can get any bulls that are exportable, of coarse.  PM me if ever interested.
 

kjd farms

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Thanks for the info.  For those in the semen business in Canada, is there any word if semen prices are going to drop because of the strength of the Canadian dollar?  Also, any word on any new bulls that are clear for Canada?  How about the availability of Monopoly or Heatwave clones north of the border?

Thanks again.
 

orwell

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I have heard ABS may be getting some monopoly in the future.
 

cdncowboy

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kjd farms said:
Thanks for the info.  For those in the semen business in Canada, is there any word if semen prices are going to drop because of the strength of the Canadian dollar? 

Prices drop, hahaha you kill me kjd!!!  (lol) (lol) (lol)
 

klintdog

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NoDak
How about the reverse situation? How difficult is it to get semen across the border from Canada to the US? I'm goign to be heading to Agribition in a month and may want to bring some semen back across the border with me. Anything I need to be prepared for?
 

Bawndoh

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Genex is getting a limited number of Friday Night Lights semen ($30) in Canada.  Please contact me at 306-730-7822 if interested!
We also have a limited number of Premium Blend semen($50) available as well.
 

justintime

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klintdog.... moving semen across national borders in any direction is not as simple as one would think. First of all, remember that bureaucrats are involved at all levels of this, so the red tape is beyond stupid. In order to take semen from Canada into the US is not as easy as you may think. Here are some things to remember:

1). You must obtain a permit from USDA to import semen into the US from an out of country source. It takes 10-14 days to obtain this from Washington.
2) The semen must be collected in a stud that is export qualified, meaning that this stud must be approved by USDA and must be inspected on a very regulated basis by a federally approved vet.
3) the sire who produced the exportable semen must have been collected after a period of time when he has had a series of health tests done with negative results. The semen that is deemed to be US qualified only retains this status if the semen is at the approved stud or has been sealed in a semen tank for export by a federal veterinarian. Once this semen reaches the stud in the US this seal is removed by an USDA vet and the semen is checked to see if it matches the semen on the accompanying paperwork. If one word is wrong on the health papers, it is immediately sent back to wherever it originated. Remember, US qualified semen loses its export status the moment it leaves the export approved stud in anything but a government sealed shipping tank.
This means that if I put some export status semen in my private tank at home, it no longer is exportable. Fortunately, this regulation is overlooked in the production of exportable embryos. I can use US qualified semen that I have in my tanks and the embryos will still have US export status. ... which means the semen can't be exported, by the embryos produced from this semen can be. It scares me to think about the Einstein bureaucrats that come up with this crap. They are truly dangerous people.

So.. if you think you can just bring your tank to Agribition and put some semen in it and return home,  it legally ain't going to happen. I know lots of people smuggle semen across the borders in each direction, but I think you should consider some of the consequences if you get caught. I know of several fitters who have been refused entry into the US and vice versa, into Canada, simply because they have a .08 alcohol fine. I know of a few seized trucks and stock trailers because some thought they could sneak a few things across the border .. in either direction. Lots have been successful in doing this, but I think it is taking a real risk when it could affect you in ever crossing the border again in your lifetime.

So... if you want to get some Canadian semen ... or want to get semen from the US into Canada, contact a major stud and have them do the paperwork and ship the semen in one of their shipments. Most of the major studs in Canada and the US have tanks travelling between countries on a 1-2 week  basis. Make sure the semen is export qualified first, or save your breath, cause it will not happen no matter how much you want the semen.
 

Bawndoh

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Womanizer and Purple Currency are now also available in Canada through Genex.  Call me at 306-730-7822 for info or semen.
 

Bawndoh

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Looks like by the way he is bred he wont do a whole lot of downsizing.  The calves will have a lot of grow, and adequate size.  He should work best on really deep, soggy cows. 
 

klintdog

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JIT - I can't find anything showing the import requirements to bring Canadian livestock semen into the US. I can find requirements related to equine and canine, but nothing further. Do you have a reference on your side showing requirements for export to the US from Canada?

I only ask because the guy I'm workign with said that taking it back into the US shouldn't be an issue, we just can't bring any semen from the US into Canada.....Canada into US isn't supposed to be a problem.
 

justintime

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I will look, but I have exported lots of semen to the US and it is just as hard if not harder than bringing semen from the US into Canada. Some days I think the government types on both sides of the border try to out do each other with regulations and useless stuff. I understand that there has to be health regulations, but some of this makes no sense.

I get phone calls quite often from Americans that want to just come for a visit and take some semen home with them. I can assure you that you will be spending more than a few hours at the US customs if you do... and probably will go home without your semen tank... or at least with it's contents dumped out, if it does not have a CFIA seal on it and the proper export paperwork, including a USDA import permit. Without the proper documentation, a semen tank with liquid nitrogen would most likely be classified as a hazardous product as well.
 

DL

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klintdog said:
JIT - I can't find anything showing the import requirements to bring Canadian livestock semen into the US. I can find requirements related to equine and canine, but nothing further. Do you have a reference on your side showing requirements for export to the US from Canada?

I only ask because the guy I'm workign with said that taking it back into the US shouldn't be an issue, we just can't bring any semen from the US into Canada.....Canada into US isn't supposed to be a problem.

Don't know where you are but contact the nearest USDA VS office and ask to speak to the import-export veterinarian for the rules and regs

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/
 
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