10/01/2026
I'm going to do a series of posts on AI, by popular demand! I realized as I was typing things up that it was FARRRR too much information for one post. I'm also going to add a page to my website with all the information as I have time.
The very first thing you need to do artificial insemination is a quality liquid nitrogen tank, or access to one, to store your semen! You also need to know basic cryogenic handling procedures.
o The MVE XC 20 is a great starter tank. It costs around $700-800 new, and you can find used ones (make sure they still hold for adequate time) for less than that. It holds approximately 20 liters of liquid nitrogen, and holds a maximum of 660 straws, or 66 standard 10mm canes that hold 10 straws each. It has 6 canisters inside that hold 11 canes each. However, I find that 11 canes is really packed in there and hard to work in. I usually only put a max of 10 per canister.
o There are also 13mm canes that hold a bulk 20 straws (10 in each 13mm goblet) or embryos. Fewer of these larger canes will fit in one canister.
o Semen is normally stored for each buck in canes with the ID/name written on the top of the cane. If you have a full cane or just one straw, you will need a cane in the tank for that buck. I don’t recommend mixing up straws in goblets if you can avoid it. Something to keep in mind when choosing a tank as it can fill up quickly, especially if you collect your own bucks as “insurance.” It is unlikely you will have a tank with every cane full, so you will never get to the max number of straws a tank can hold. So count canes, not straws when estimating how much capacity you need.
o There are larger tanks for more storage, but they are fairly heavy when full! I have a 20 liter tank and 34 liter tank – the larger one stays at home for bulk storage. The 20 liter one I can lift alone and it goes to shows with me when I am picking up or delivering semen.
o Don’t buy a cheap, small tank from Amazon/Vevor! These tanks have smaller canisters that won’t fit the long canes that semen is packed in. If you are going to be spending the money on semen, invest in a quality tank. If your storage goes bad, you’ll lose all your straws!
o You will need to have your tank refilled periodically with liquid nitrogen as the nitrogen will ev***rate over time. The cost of this can vary wildly depending on where you are located. I pay $65 per fill per tank and am on a route that comes to my house about every 11 weeks. If your tank goes dry because you forget to fill it, you will lose all of your expensive straws!
o Keep your tank in an area you will see it daily, and sitting on an old towel or rug if on concrete (helps protect the tank from corrosion). If you ever see frost on the outside, the vacuum seal has failed and you need to act immediately to save your straws. It’s never a bad idea to have a backup plan with a nearby friend's tank if this happens!
o Don’t get the plug to your tank wet! It can freeze to the side of the tank and cause damage. The plug is supposed to be loose-fitting to let nitrogen escape slowly over time. You can put the plug in a plastic grocery bag (like a sleeve) to help with rattling during transport, but don’t leave the bag on there as pressure can build up and damage the tank.
o Be very careful when transporting your tank – It cannot be tipped over or the nitrogen will spill out! Nitrogen displaces oxygen so you want to make sure your tank is in a well-ventilated area. Strap that tank down! Be gentle with you tank – you don’t want to damage the tank and lose the vacuum.
o If you drop a cane or straws down into the main tank area (not in a canister) by accident, a 4 prong pick up tool is essential to get it back out. Let the tank sit for a bit and the v***r will clear so you can see down into the tank.
o A measuring or yardstick is helpful to determine how much liquid nitrogen is left in your tank. Try not to let it get under 10 cm of nitrogen – these tanks need a minimum amount of nitrogen to store the straws properly – Even if the tank doesn’t run fully dry, very low nitrogen levels can lead to damaged straws.
o Searching for straws: Use a headlamp, work quickly, and keep canisters below the frost line when working in your tank. Repeated exposure to warmer temperatures will damage your semen.
o Transferring semen between tanks should be done quickly – think about 5 seconds. You want to have the least amount of time possible out of the liquid nitrogen.
o V***r Shippers: These can be more expensive than a wet tank because they require a protective cover known as a “mushroom.” This unique shape protects the shipping tank and keeps it upright during shipment. V***r tanks are charged with liquid nitrogen – it is absorbed into a specialized porous, hydrophobic material inside the tank before shipping. This enables 1-3 weeks (depending on the tank) of cyrogenic storage without worrying about spilling liquid nitrogen during shipping.
o Off-site storage: some companies offer to store your straws for a per-cane rate. This can be beneficial if you don’t want to invest in your own tank, take your doe to the facility to be AI’d, or worry about keeping your straws properly stored. These facilities also usually have v***r shippers you can rent to transport your semen.
So that's my basic rundown on semen tanks! I tried to include a lot of useful information without going too in depth. Anyone have anything I should add? Any questions? Let me know!
Next part coming soon - the equipment you'll need!
