Importation of UK Frozen Ram Semen for Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination (LAI) & Frozen Sheep Embryos for Embryo Transfer (ET)
UK Heritage Sheep Breeds of rams (tups) in collection follow isolation, blood-work and Health Protocols to be "shared" via ONLY separate tank exports:
[UK to USA], [UK to Canada] & [UK to other countries around the World] . . . use Interest/Order Form at the bottom for all countries
Updated 25 August 2026
*** IMPORTANT NOTICE 25 Aug 2026 *** Tank #12 NEW UPDATE
• 3rd - 4th Sept 2026 . . . UK Health Certificate sign-offs of each ram's documents by Gov UK Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)
• 4th - 7th Sept 2026 . . . shipment & arrival from UK to Chicago/Des Plaines USDA/APHIS Customs
• Deb Nelson Gourley, owner, Heritage Sheep Reproduction has received the USDA/APHIS Import Permit Extension (new above dates) for Tank #12 with 1,300+ straws for the Gov UK Health Certificate sign-offs via APHA and importation into the USA. Once Tank #12 arrives in the USA, it then goes thru USDA/APHIS Customs and "hot shot" delivery to Great Lakes Sire Service (GLSS) in Michigan for in-inventory. Straws are then put into GLSS storage and/or re-shipped for LAI/ET usage in the USA.
• REMINDER . . . To use Tank #12 semen shortly, start working on your below Step # 2: Scrapie Compliance/USDA approvals to move straws. Return your forms to Margaret Van Camp ONLY, not to deb/HSR.
• REMINDER . . . DO NOT synchronize your ewes until Tank #12 straws are at GLSS and/or re-shipped. Please check back to this page for further updates.
*** IMPORTANT NOTICE 14 Aug 2026 *** Tank #12 has been delayed from Scotland to USA:
• The USDA/APHIS Import Permit for Tank #12 originally was scheduled for export 10 August 2026, but has been delayed a few week(s).
• The issue is that Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Veterinary staff were dispatched to England and Wales to help deal with their outbreak of Bluetongue Virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), thus causing a lack of government Veterinarians in Scotland to inspect Health Certificates required for the liquid nitrogen tank export.
• I know this is frustrating for all of you, but I can assure you that the UK/AI Centre is working to export the tank ASAP and they recommend that you do not synchronize your ewes until Tank #12 straws are available for your use in the USA.
• The United Kingdom (UK) sheep farmers are hurting. They have 31 million sheep in an area 1.4 times as big as the State of Wisconsin vs 5 million sheep in the whole USA. This outbreak is devastating for the UK sheep industry, which is also experiencing a shortage of BTV-3 vaccine availability.
Tank #12 contains the following rams (tups):
1. Dorset (polled) "Huish A26H27062" (UK0364432-27062) - for Canada ONLY
2. Dorset (polled) "Huish A26H27237" (UK0364432-27237)
3. Dorset (polled) "Huish A26H27397" (UK0364432-27397)
4. Hampshire Down "Seawell Explosive" F132400101 (UK0212845-00101)
5. Lacaune (FR160458-70027) milking sheep, UK import from France
6. Lacaune (FR161912-70036) milking sheep, UK import from France
7. Lacaune (FR280202-71115) milking sheep, UK import from France
8. North Country Cheviot [Park Type] "Bardnaclavan Blacksmith" (UK0500605-16392)
9. Racka UK0104665 01934 (see 2 pgs of data containing each Racka ram)
10. Racka UK0104665 01936 (see 2 pgs of data containing each Racka ram)
11. Racka UK0104665 01939 (see 2 pgs of data containing each Racka ram)
12. Racka UK0139145 00107 (see 2 pgs of data containing each Racka ram)
13 Suffolk "Bentley 07089" (UK0201020-07089)
14. Suffolk "Howgillfoot Commander" UTZ:24:00486 (UK0118676-00486)
15. Suffolk "Logie Durno HCT:24:54785" (UK0521509-54785)
16. Wensleydale (black) "West End 1624B" 694/23/1624B (UK0107504-01624)
17. Wensleydale (black) "West End 1626B" 694/23/1626B (UK0107504-01626)
18. Wensleydale (black) “West End Jack of Spades II" 7899B” (UK0107504-01348)
NEW . . . Rams in UK/AI Centre for 2026 collection & early 2027 importation (USA & Canada):
1. Cotswold "Crailside Ram" C17604 (UK0544931-01354) = 150 straws collected
2. Cotswold "Roelcots Henry" (UK0334115-00316) = 50+ straws collected thus far
3. Herdwick photos/data to follow soon, rams have entered 6+ month isolation/semen collection
4. Herdwick photos/data to follow soon, rams have entered 6+ month isolation/semen collection
5. Herdwick photos/data to follow soon, rams have entered 6+ month isolation/semen collection
6. Suffolk "Bentley 07334" (UK0201020-07334) in UK/AI Centre for semen collection
7. Suffolk "Logie Durno HCT:24:54667" (UK0521509-54667) in UK/AI Centre for semen collection
Tank #s 1-11 were all imported into the USA. Plus Tank #12 is soon to be imported. Visit tab: Shop UK Frozen Ram Semen to select UK semen and/or embryos for USA. Check directly with Dr. Lynn Tait, OC Flock Management for importation dates to Canada for UK semen only (UK embryos to Canada still not allowed). Follow Steps 1-3:
Step 1: To purchase frozen ram semen [USA & Canada] and embryos [USA only, Canada not approved yet]:
a. Use this tab called Interest Form & News (scroll ALL the way to bottom of this page), form automatically goes to HSA (USA) & OCFM (Canada)
b. Be sure to read ALL the requirements below for the Scrapie Program, Frozen Ram Semen and Sheep Embryos
c. Scroll to very bottom of this page, fill out form & hit BLUE SUBMIT button underneath. If need be TURN your cellphone sideways to see the SUBMIT button
d. Interest/Order Form automatically goes to both deb/HSR (USA) and Lynn Tait/OCFM (Canada), plus you receive a auto confirmation email
Step 2: SCRAPIE COMPLIANCE / USDA APPROVALS TO MOVE STRAWS — After your invoice is paid, deb/HSR contacts Margaret Van Camp, Pitchfork Ranch, Michigan, pitchfork3772@gmail.com, phone: 810-814-3408 for you. Margaret handles all scrapie compliance, USDA approval, plus any questions on storage and/or re-shipping. Margaret sends you the required forms for scrapie compliance and processes your USDA approval to ship semen to your desired location. There is an additional $75 fee charged for this service via Margaret, no matter when the straws are moved. Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks as time is dependent on when USDA replies.
Step 3: STORAGE / RE-SHIPPING — Once your Step 2 documents are processed, Margaret Van Camp contacts Great Lakes Sire Services (GLSS), Bronson, Michigan for you. Margaret supplies GLSS with your semen order, contact info and USDA compliance. GLSS then sends you the forms for storage and/or re-shipping of the straws. GLSS will charge fees for storage and/or shipping of the straws once they are transferred to you. [NOTE Steps 2 & 3 order: GLSS can not assist with your order until Margaret supplies them with your completed paperwork]
USA Importations . . . various stages of rams, breeds & embryos:
- all imported frozen semen stored at Great Lakes Sire Service (GLSS), Bronson, Michigan until re-shipped within the USA only
Tank #1 (ram semen) straws imported 10 Nov 2021 to USA [7 rams] = 2 Bluefaced Leicester, 1 Clun Forest, 1 Kerry Hill, 1 Teeswater, 2 Wensleydale (white)
Tank #2 (ram semen) straws imported 21 June 2022 to USA [9 rams] = 3 Herdwick, 3 Shetland, 2 Wensleydale (black), 1 Zwartbles
Tank #3 (ram semen) straws imported 27 Oct 2022 to USA [12 rams] = 1 Bleu du Maine, 1 Dorset (Polled), 4 Kerry Hill, 1 Suffolk, 1 Teeswater, 2 Texel, 2 Zwartbles
Tank #4 (ram semen) straws imported 15 Nov 2022 to USA [7 rams] = 3 Teeswater, 4 North Country Cheviot (Park type)
Tank #5 (ram semen) straws imported 11 May 2023 to USA [9 rams] = 1 Derbyshire Gritstone, 1 Ile de France, 1 Kerry Hill, 1 North Country Cheviot [Park type], 3 Shetland, 1 Texel, 1 Zwartbles
Tank #6 (embryos) straws imported 14 Dec 2023, Embryo Transfer (ET) frozen embryos [3 breeds] = Dutch Spotted, Kerry Hill, Zwartbles
Tank #7 (ram semen) straws imported 4 June 2024 to USA [11 rams] = 1 Clun Forest, 1 Dorset (horned), 2 Dutch Spotted, 2 Hampshire Down, 1 Kerry Hill, 2 Southdown, 2 Wensleydale (white)
Tank #8 (embryos) straws imported 11 Sept 2024, Embryo Transfer (ET) frozen embryos [4 breeds] = Dutch Spotted, Kerry Hill, North Country Cheviot (Park type), Wensleydale (white)
Tank #9 (embryos) straws imported 15 Dec 2024, Embryo Transfer (ET) frozen embryos [4 breeds] Herdwick, Kerry Hill, Teeswater, Wensleydale (white, black)
Tank #10 (embryos) straws imported 31 March 2025 = Herdwick, Kerry Hill, Teeswater, Wensleydale (black)
Tank #11 (ram semen) straws imported 31 March 2025 = 3 Bluefaced Leicester, 1 Charollais, 1 Dutch Spotted, 2 Hampshire, 1 Kerry Hill, 5 North Country Cheviot, 1 Shropshire
Heritage Sheep Reproduction has ~100+ UK rams in various stages of the Frozen Ram Semen Importation process [isolation, blood work, semen collection and/or imported]. Due to working with RARE Sheep Breeds in the UK, rams are being "shared in the UK" for separate importations . . . [UK to USA], [UK to Canada] & [UK to other countries around the World]:
= 20+ breeds: Bleu du Maine, Bluefaced Leicester, Charollais, Clun Forest, Cotswold, Dorset (both horned & polled), Dutch Spotted, Hampshire, Herdwick, Ile de France, Kerry Hill, Lacaune, North Country Cheviot, Ouessant, Racka, Shetland, Shropshire, Southdown, Suffolk, Teeswater, Texel, Wensleydale (both black & white), Zwartbles
= $135.00 per straw [semen includes importation fee*], 5 straws/client minimum order can be a mixture of rams & breeds [UK/AI Centre requires combined USA/Canada minimum order of 100 straws/ram when new breeds are added to the list]. Racka price is higher due to extreme rareness.
[importation fee* = Codon Scrapie Genotype testing to source ARR/ARR (highest resistance) rams, UK Gov Sign-off, transport to London, non-stop flight to USA, tank fully insured, USDA/APHIS Customs inspection, shipment from Customs to
Great Lakes Sire Service (GLSS) Bronson, Michigan, in-inventory at GLSS, return tank to UK for next shipment] + plus any cost overrun
100% UK Frozen Sheep Embryos, 1st time allowed for exportation into USA [Canada not approved yet] . . . click ET links for details, [embryos data posted in with "Shop UK Frozen Ram Semen" tab until separate ET tab available]
UK Embryo Transfer [ET] = 8 breeds: Dutch Spotted, Herdwick, Kerry Hill, North Country Cheviot (Park type), Teeswater, Wensleydale (both black & white), Zwartbles
= $595.00 per embryo [importation fee of $100/embryo NOT included in price], 4 embryos/client minimum order/per breed, Grade #1 embryos ONLY unless noted. [UK/AI Centre requires USA minimum order of 30 embryos/breed. Embryos shipped to Reproduction Specialty Group (RSG), Lebanon, Indiana. [For embryos all further documents once imported handled via RSG].
To fill requirements on USA side of the pond please note these items:
- Shop UK Frozen Ram Semen to see individual rams (pictures, pedigrees, data, owners) to add Genetic Diversity into your flock
- USA clients can purchase ram semen and/or embryos now, but need to be in the National Scrapie Eradication Program BEFORE re-shipping and/or usage
- rams for semen importation are required via USDA/APHIS to be Scrapie Genotype tested ARR/ARR [highest resistance]
- donor ewes required to be Scrapie Genotype tested . . . Health Certificate 11.1.2.1 * "For in vivo-derived sheep embryos only: The embryos are of the genotype AAQR or AARR based on official testing of the parents of the embryos
• once orders for #ram semen straws and/or #embryos are placed and UK production is started, they "CAN" be increased, but "CAN NOT" be reduced
• "mother nature" ultimately determines the maximum # of straws and embryos produced
• all USA client payments by check, credit/debit card or money wire [payments collected via Heritage Sheep Reproduction, LLC for money wires to UK/AI Centre]
Rams for frozen semen [USA & CANADA] (following ~ 6 months USDA/APHIS schedule)
a. source Genetic Diverse rams for Scrapie Genotype ARR/ARR (Type 1, highest resistance required) and negative for Schmallenberg Virus (SBV)
b. additional bloodwork to enter 120-day isolation includes: Brucellosis, Maedi-Visna (MV), Bluetongue Virus (BTV), Tuberculosis (TB) and others
c. after 120-day isolation completed, retest bloodwork before rams enter UK/AI Collection Barn for training & semen collection
d. after semen collection completed, rams enter another 30-day isolation
e. final bloodwork before Health Certificates processed for export
f. USDA/APHIS Import Permit or Canadian Import Permit, UK Government Sign-Off, Flights (UK to USA) or (UK to Canada) for Customs Inspection
g. transport from Customs to (Great Lakes Sire Service, Michigan, USA) or (OC Flock Management, Canada) for storage and/or re-shipping within country to clients
h. NO re-shipping allowed to another country once ram semen is imported
i. Semen straws available for Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination (LAI) of ewes Tank #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 all imported into USA
Embryo Tranfer [ET] donor ewes & rams fresh semen [USA ONLY] (~ 3-1/2 months schedule)
a. shorter initial 60-day isolation schedule due to embryos are washed, can't wash sperm cells
b. frozen embryos Tank #s 6, 8, 9, 10 all imported into USA
c. waiting for Canada's possible embryo approval . . . hopefully soon!
1 Dec 2022 via USDA/APHIS —"Effective immediately, sheep and goat in-vivo embryos and oocytes from the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern Ireland will be eligible for import into the United States. Importation of such commodities is only permitted for direct transfer to recipient females in U.S. flocks or herds listed in the National Scrapie Database, or to an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)-approved embryo storage facility where they may be kept until transfer to the aforementioned recipient females."
Sire Service, Bronson, Michigan for semen storage and/or reshipping in USA
7 Nov 2022 — UK Government now allowing Export of Frozen Sheep Embryos from England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland into the USA
UK Ram Sharing Program . . . Heritage Sheep Reproduction (USA) and
OC Flock Management (Canada) have teamed up to share rams at the UK/AI Center in order to make it more feasible to bring
new Sheep Genetic Diversity to this side of the pond. Rams fulfill requirements for both, but tanks shipped separately (UK to USA) & (UK to Canada) as no reshipping allowed to other countries:
a. Same UK rams - both USA & Canadian Health Protocols fulfilled
b. UK to USA - fill out INTEREST FORM / ORDER FORM at the bottom of this page (include your address & add UK to USA)
c. UK to Canada - fill out INTEREST FORM / ORDER FORM at the bottom of this page (include your address & add UK to CANADA)
d. Interest Forms are automatically delivered to both Heritage Sheep Reproduction, USA and the OC Flock Management, Canada for an accurate straw order count
USA/Canada Breed Coordinators available to help you with any questions:
Interest Form & Order Form data is necessary for liaising with USA/Canada/UK breeders and breed societies to source rams and ensure a smooth flow of information. Genetic Diversity is a PRIORITY with Rare Heritage Breeds. When multiple rams are ordered within the same breed, every effort will be made to assure that each sheep breeder receives their correct percentage of the different blood lines. Contact your Sheep Breed Coordinator if questions:
• USA/Canada All Other Breeds, Deb Nelson Gourley, owner, Heritage Sheep Reproduction, phone 563-568-6229, gourleydeb@gmail.com or submit form below
• USA/Canada Bluefaced Leicester Breed Coordinator, Margaret VanCamp,
mavaca@usol.com
• USA/Canada North Country Cheviot (Park type) Co-Coordinator, Martin Macqueen,
macqueen@tds.net
• USA/Canada North Country Cheviot (Park type) Co-Coordinator, Steve Stone,
stoneclydes@aol.com
Ram Semen and Embryo Collection . . . built-in client protection of any failure at key points of the process. If a ram fails to produce semen, another ram will be selected. If a donor ewe fails to produce embryos, another ewe will be selected.
UK to USA (in American dollar) client purchases of sheep embryos and frozen ram semen from UK/AI Centre, processed via Heritage Sheep Reproduction, Waukon, Iowa:
• ram semen cost includes $5.00/straw to defray Heritage Sheep Reproduction import permit, e-commerce website and incredible amount of paperwork
• embryos cost has pro-rated importation costs plus additional $10.00/embryo to defray Heritage Sheep Reproduction import permit, e-commerce website and incredible amount of paperwork
• Codon Scrapie Genotype (required ARR/ARR) is an additional expense for the USA breeder, pro-rated per straw purchased
• if DNA Profile is required by your USA breed association, i.e., Dutch Spotted, Herdwick, Kerry Hill, Wensleydale, this is an additional expense for the USA breeder and/or your Association
• 1 semen straw per ewe needed for Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination
• 5 semen straws per client minimum order if already on the website (can be from multiple rams and breeds)
• ram semen . . . a NEW breed ONLY if not already on the website requires 100 straws per individual ram minimum order, before entering UK ram semen isolation and collection center (can be from multiple clients in both the USA and Canada)
• UK/AI Centre recommends 2 embryos/recipient ewe [surrogate mother]
• a NEW breed ONLY if not already on the website requires 30 embryos per breed of donors minimum order, before entering UK ram semen isolation and collection center (USA only, Canada not approved yet)
• as per USDA/APHIS, UK frozen ram semen imported into the USA can not be reshipped to Canada or any other country
• reshipment costs within the USA and/or long-term cryopreservation storage are the responsibility of the client(s)
UK to Canada (in Canadian dollar) client purchases of frozen ram semen from UK/AI Centre, processed via OC Flock Management, Alberta, Canada
• All purchases for Canada will be managed directly by OC Flock Management in Alberta
• All purchases will be invoiced by and payments will be made to OC Flock in Canadian dollars
• To order semen please submit Interest/Order Form below [automatically delivered to both OCFM and HSR]
• ~ $125.00 CANADIAN per straw: at current costs and exchange rates, anticipate that the semen landed at our facility will be $125.00 CAD per straw. Storage is $1.25/straw per year with a minimum fee of $10.00 per ram [via 24March2023]
• per straw cost includes payment to the ram owner, ram quarantine, veterinary fees, bloodwork, tests, semen collection
• per straw cost includes $5.00 USD/straw to defray Heritage Sheep Reproduction for the e-commerce website and incredible amount of time and legwork to make this opportunity possible for the smaller Canadian industry
• exact amount of import costs and GST will be determined on a per straw basis after arrival in Canada
• DNA Profile is required by CSBA/CLRC for ALL imported semen and will be included in the import costs, pro-rated per straw purchased per ram
• 1 straw per ewe needed for Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination
• 5 straws per client minimum order (can be from multiple rams and breeds)
• 100 straws per individual ram minimum, before entering UK ram semen quarantine and collection center (can be from multiple clients in both the USA and Canada)
• UK semen to Canada can be used in any flock with no restrictions
• as per CFIA, UK frozen ram semen imported into the Canada cannot be reshipped to the USA or any other country
• UK tank(s) will be shipped to OC Flock Management in Alberta
• reshipment costs within Canada and/or long-term storage with OC Flock are the responsibility of the client(s)
USDA/APHIS Regulations for Sheep and their Germplasm Importations into the USA:
• live animals - ONLY from Australia, New Zealand
• frozen semen - ONLY from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, European Union, Iceland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom (UK includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• frozen embryos - ONLY from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (UK includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
