BREED Diagnostics

BREED Diagnostics World-class researchers in advanced veterinary semen diagnostics and processing

Anne Patten, Founder and Director of EquiClarus, was kind enough to join us and discuss one of the biggest challenges fa...
18/08/2026

Anne Patten, Founder and Director of EquiClarus, was kind enough to join us and discuss one of the biggest challenges facing equine veterinary practices today: retaining talented veterinarians and preventing burnout.

With her background in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Anne is deeply committed to supporting veterinarians and helping practices build healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

There was far more insight in our conversation than we could fit into one episode. Veterinary colleagues around the world—I strongly encourage you to reach out to Anne. Her knowledge and practical approach can help you build an operation where your team can thrive, reduce burnout, and retain the talented veterinarians who are so vital to your practice.
https://youtu.be/nXyHwlZ8xrI

In many cases, the best embryologist is the mare herself. 🐴✨If your mare has ever had an ET, have you been faced with th...
20/07/2026

In many cases, the best embryologist is the mare herself. 🐴✨

If your mare has ever had an ET, have you been faced with the following decisions:
Twin embryos after the flush - which one do you discard?
No suitable recipient available?
An unexpected circumstance means it is no longer the right time for an embryo transfer

What if there was a way to preserve that valuable embryo(s)?

That's where experts like Drs Mark Wiggett and Marnie Treseder come in.

This beautiful embryo (one that even our embryologist, Mo Bahrami, would be jealous of!) was flushed at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, carefully packed and shipped to our lab, where it was cryopreserved (the images are of the same embryo before and during the cryopreservation process) and safely stored.

The result? This client now has two embryos from the same mare safely in storage, ready to transfer whenever the timing is right for their breeding program.

Good embryos are too valuable to waste. Sometimes, preserving today's opportunity creates tomorrow's success. ❄️🐎

What a way to finish a busy week! 🍻Dr Kylie Hardwicke and Dr Jennifer Clulow (aka the dream team) hard at work, with all...
10/07/2026

What a way to finish a busy week! 🍻

Dr Kylie Hardwicke and Dr Jennifer Clulow (aka the dream team) hard at work, with all their dedication and expertise culminating in a fantastic result - a successful embryo for one very happy client.

Now safely cryopreserved and patiently waiting for the perfect recipient to continue its journey.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved. You've all earned a well-deserved beer! 🍺👏

https://youtu.be/xAiN-GTcnggWhat are some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding these advanced reproductive techniqu...
01/07/2026

https://youtu.be/xAiN-GTcngg
What are some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding these advanced reproductive techniques?

In this episode Dr Danton Cervi from Woodgrange Specialist Equine Hospital -The Horse Vet joins us for an insightful conversation about OPU/ICSI, helping to dispel some of the common myths surrounding the OPU procedure and explain what actually happens from a veterinarian's perspective.

It's a fantastic opportunity to learn from someone who performs these procedures regularly. We're incredibly fortunate to work alongside a practitioner like Danton, whose expertise, professionalism, and willingness to educate continue to benefit both clients and the broader equine industry.

Whether you're considering OPU/ICSI or simply want to better understand the process, this episode is worth a watch.

🎥 Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Before an embryo is created through ICSI in the lab, the journey begins with OPU.This is where everything starts and whe...
26/06/2026

Before an embryo is created through ICSI in the lab, the journey begins with OPU.

This is where everything starts and where every single member of the veterinary team plays a critical role.

Veterinarians are the very first people to come into contact with these precious oocytes. A healthy, viable oocyte can be irreversibly damaged by poor handling, making every movement, every decision, and every detail matter. It takes an exceptionally skilled and highly trained team to collect and care for these cells so they arrive in the lab with the very best chance of success.

At Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Centre, that level of care is never left to chance. From donor preparation to oocyte recovery and handling, Dr Kylie Hardwicke treats every oocyte as if it's already the future foal it has the potential to become.

And sometimes, we get to see the results of that care in spectacular fashion. This little embryo couldn't wait to get going - it started hatching in the lab! Safe to say, this one's a bolter. 🐎✨

Success in assisted reproduction doesn't start under the microscope. It starts with an exceptional veterinary team.

https://youtu.be/2Qp-HypkwpsWhat does a stallion agent actually do, and why is the role becoming increasingly important ...
22/06/2026

https://youtu.be/2Qp-Hypkwps
What does a stallion agent actually do, and why is the role becoming increasingly important in today's horse breeding industry?

In this episode, Mo Bahrami sat down with Tish Healey from Healey Quarter Horses to discuss the role of stallion agents, breeding contracts, and the importance of transparency in successful breeding programs.

The conversation also explores the rise of ICSI technology, how it is changing equine reproduction, and why Quarter Horses continue to grow in popularity.

Whether you're a breeder, competitor, horse owner, or simply passionate about the equine industry, this episode provides valuable insights into the business, science, and relationships that underpin modern horse breeding.

A big thank you to Tish for sharing her knowledge and experience.

We hope you enjoy this episode!
Feel free to put forward any questions you may have about assisted reproductive technologies and our experts will answer these in future episodes.

23/05/2026

30 Years on Ice ❄️

Cryopreservation is undeniably one of the most significant assisted reproductive technologies. It revolutionized artificial insemination (AI) and gave us the incredible ability to safeguard elite genetics, allowing breeders to wait until conditions are absolutely perfect.

But sometimes, standard AI isn't an option.

We recently received a single straw of semen from a long-deceased, highly prized stallion. It was frozen over 30 years ago and is one of only two straws remaining in Australia.

When you are down to the absolute last line of genetics, standard artificial insemination is simply too high of a risk—a single straw rarely provides the s***m numbers needed for a successful AI, and if a pregnancy isn’t achieved, those irreplaceable genetics are gone forever.

Instead, our team made a precise cut into the straw, and after three decades "on ice," the s***m were ready to tango! A beautiful embryo was made right here at the Newcastle Equine ICSI lab.

This incredible milestone highlights how advanced lab techniques can rescue and revive legacy genetics that would otherwise be lost to time.

A massive commendation to Dr Fiona Herzog and the exceptional team at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital for yet another successful OPU! 🐴✨

And they’re off the mark! 🏏✨Following a successful validation process, Dr Danton Cervi, Dr Izzie Bamford, and the team a...
17/04/2026

And they’re off the mark! 🏏✨

Following a successful validation process, Dr Danton Cervi, Dr Izzie Bamford, and the team at Woodgrange Specialist Equine Hospital -The Horse Vet have produced their first commercial embryo for the season — with many more to come!

Ever wondered what happens to embryos once they’ve fully developed at the Newcastle ICSI lab?

They undergo vitrification — a highly delicate process where the expanded embryo is carefully dehydrated, allowing it to be cryopreserved (as shown in the image). This ensures the embryo remains viable for future use.

Can’t transfer an embryo this season? No problem. You can keep your future foal “on ice” until the timing is just right. ❄️🐴

23/01/2026

S***m safe is a very cool semen extender developed by the very clever Lee Morris at EquiBreed ART and Newcastle Uni. We have taken up using this product in select cases and find it super helpful. It has lots of great applications from longer term fresh semen preservation at room temp or with tricky semen, to use following semen centrifugation in mares with problems with uterine health.

Another tool in the tool box, and as always, learning and striving to do the best for our clients and patients! 🤓

Starting 2026 with the best sound there is — a beating heart 💓(courtesy of Dr Kylie Hardwicke)Thanks to the expertise of...
05/01/2026

Starting 2026 with the best sound there is — a beating heart 💓
(courtesy of Dr Kylie Hardwicke)

Thanks to the expertise of our veterinary colleagues and the dedicated team at the Newcastle Equine ICSI Laboratory, ICSI continues to deliver outstanding results, with 80% pregnancy rates following transfer of embryos produced in our lab.

Here’s to collaboration, innovation, and a big year ahead.
Wishing everyone a fantastic 2026!

Address

LS4. 45 The University Of Newcastle
Callaghan, NSW
2308

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5am
Tuesday 9am - 5am
Wednesday 9am - 5am
Thursday 9am - 5am
Friday 9am - 5am

Telephone

+61425351835

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