Geelong vet uses 30-year-old sperm to produce four Great Dane puppies

A Geelong vet clinic has helped a Great Dane breeder use decades old frozen semen to produce a litter of puppies.

Breeder Deidre McRae, centre, with Bellarine Veterinary Practice nurse Helen Daglas and practice owner Dr John Quinane with the four Great Dane puppies. Picture: Alison Wynd

         

A Geelong vet clinic has used semen frozen three decades ago to produce Great Dane puppies from a dog that itself was produced from 31-year-old semen.

Australian Champion Ultimo Tango Pirigi was born three years ago after being bred from sperm that was frozen and stored in 1989.

The sperm was from one of Ballarat breeder Deidre McRae’s prized Great Danes, Liebendane Armstrong.

Ultimo Tango Pirigi has since birthed her own puppies, which occurred after using semen from Grand Australian Champion Liebendane Baby Grand, which was collected and frozen in 1994.

Ms McRae said it was unique to use semen that had been frozen for so long.

“This is the third lot of semen I have used that is 30 years old from Bellarine Veterinary Practice and that’s pretty rare,” she said.

“To have really healthy puppies like these four is just fabulous.”

Ms McRae said she loved Great Danes because they were “gentle giants”.

“They are the most human dog you can have, they would prefer to be with you than other dogs,” she said.

Bellarine Veterinary Practice owner John Quinane said the frozen semen was stored in liquid nitrogen tanks.

“Freezing dog semen was only initiated 35 years ago, so it is some of the oldest frozen semen in existence,” he said.

“Over the years we have frozen it for other dogs and other breeds, but these ones are particularly special because of its age.”

Dr Quinane said he had seen good success over the years from breeding from frozen sperm.

“The results bring a lot of joy to us, as well as the breeders,” he said.

“We don’t have any direct input into the choice, and a lot goes into the process but they usually only breed the top dogs.

“It's a bit of insurance too if something was to happen to the male dog, its genetics can carry on.”

Ms McRae said her the puppies’ sire won best puppy exhibit at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1994 and won best exhibit at six years old in 1999.

“He was the first Great Dane grand champion in Australia in 1994,” she said.

“He has sired great dogs but this is the second time I have used his semen like this.

“The first time was 18 months ago and there were five puppies.

“His father was semen I imported from Sweden, that was the first time I used Bellarine Veterinary Practice in 1993.”

Of the three boys and one girl, Ms McRae will be keeping the boy named Marshall and the girl, who has been named Skittles.

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Originally published as Geelong vet uses 30-year-old sperm to produce four Great Dane puppies