SBS Ireland

ABOUT

Jo Anna Fox, editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, writes in the 2010 spring issue :
"Standing around sport horse sales rings – as I do most of the year – you get talking to people, mostly about horses, horse prices, stallions, mares, foals, all the usual stuff that goes with being a horse breeder. When talk turns to the breeding season, one veterinary hospital in particular seems to be gathering quite a reputation - Somerton Equine Hospital on the flat planes of the Curragh, Co Kildare".

Somerton has always offered expertise in all areas of equine husbandry. Since its foundation in 1975, it has provided a specialized high quality equine veterinary service distinguished by innovation and attention to detail. In recent years however, its state of the art facility on twelve acres has expanded to include a purpose built EU Approved Stallion Center and Reproductive Center.

With the ensuing recession, was this a case of bad timing? "Absolutely not," says Heinrich Zieg, principal of the practice, "it is at times like this that people can no longer afford the ambiguity that comes with a non-specialist service. Our clients need the cutting edge expertise that we can offer, now more than ever".

The cutting edge expertise he refers to comes in the form of reproductive specialists Steffi Bucca and Andrea Carli who joined the Somerton team in Spring 2008. Bringing with them a reputation for pioneering innovation in reproductive medicine and surgery gained from their work both internationally and in Ireland, they have garnered an unparalleled notoriety for their success with assisted reproductive techniques.

Visit our Website: somertonequine.com or Contact us.

SERVICES

The stallion center offers five spacious stables for boarding stallions and is approved by the Department of Agriculture, under EU rules. In affiliation to Select Breeders Services brings 20 years experience in the field of stallion management and freezing.

Mare Reproduction

Services include:

• Pre-season evaluations
• Routine breeding assessment
• Sub fertility / infertility assessments
• Gynecological surgical repair / enhancement
• Fetal sexing
• Fetal-placental assessments
• Embryo transfer

Stallion Reproduction

Services include:

• Training the stallion to the phantom mare
• Stallion fertility assessment
• Semen collection and packaging for chill/shipment
• Semen freezing
• Frozen semen storage and distribution

STAFF

STEFANIA BUCCA, DVM

Stefania graduated from the University of Turin in 1977, she moved to Ireland the following year to see practice with John B Hughes MVB, MRCVS at Airlie Stud. She became resident vet at Airlie Stud for a further five years and then moved to Rathbarry Stud, again as resident vet, for twelve years. During her time at Rathbarry Stud she also completed seven southern hemisphere seasons in Australia and New Zealand. Stefania returned to Italy in 1995 and spent about ten years working in equine assisted reproduction. She joined the Select Breeders Services in 1999 and has since been freezing equine semen as an SBS franchised laboratory. She returned to Ireland in 2005 and joined Somerton Equine Hospital in 2008. Stefania is the author of several published articles and book chapters on mare reproductive matters and foetal monitoring and is associate lecturer at the University of Pisa, Italy.

ANDREA CARLI, DVM

Andrea graduated from the University of Perugia, Italy in 2002. He has completed two internships in the USA and then moved to Ireland where he became resident vet at Rathbarry Stud. Andrea joined Select Breeders Services in 2005 and has since been freezing equine semen as an SBS franchised laboratory in Ireland. He joined Somerton Equine Hospital in 2008. Andrea’s primary interest is reproduction and he obtained a diploma in equine acupuncture in 2010.

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