Holstud - ‘We embrace innovation to keep evolving and moving forward'

‘In the 1990s, I took over the business and further specialized our services in high-quality stallion and mare management’, tells Jorgen. ‘I thrive on agility and speed, which is why I handle everything myself - from semen collection to insemination, and from storage to global distribution of genetic material. For us, quality and reliable service for stallion and mare owners always come first. After all, we help them get the very best from their animals.’

Today, Holstud has evolved into an independent partner in the international breeding sector. With EU-certified facilities, a diverse stallion roster across multiple disciplines and breeds, specialist guidance, and a full-service offering with complete control over every step of the process, they are well-positioned for the future. 

A laboratory upgrade 

Jorgen firmly believes in embracing innovation to stay ahead. Quality demands renewal - especially when systems are no longer operating at their best. By continuously investing in new technologies and collaborative partnerships, Holstud maintains full control over its processes and its future. Recently, we were pleased to provide expert advice and upgrade their lab with advanced equipment and consumables. 

Holstud now utilizes:   

  • The IMV IRIS printer , ensuring 24/7 availability of semen straws; 
  • New liquid nitrogen and storage tanks from MVE for safe and secure storage; 
  • The Microptic CASA system for precise semen analysis and optimal quality control. 

‘In addition, NIFA supplies us with various consumables - not because we have to, but because it simply works: fast, flexible, and without hassle. A quick call or message is usually all it takes. That’s exactly how we serve our own clients as well.’ 

The NIFA-team extends heartfelt thanks to Holstud for their continued trust. We value the collaboration and are proud to support their work! 

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Together, we create new life through trust, expertise, and the right technology. 

Stud V.V. - ‘Self-paced with knowledge and confidence in own lab’

Since this year, Stud V.V. has taken the step to having its own laboratory. No more endless trips to stallion stations and dependence on external parties. Just, everything in our own hands. This is also much more pleasant for the horses. Evelyne enthusiastically talks about their steps over the past period. 

'At our company, we work with young showjumping stallions, such as our J-Nius V.V. Z. Of course, we have several stallions in our brochure. We ourselves breed about 20 foals every year, a few of which we keep and train ourselves. Around the age of seven, they are ready for sale. In addition to inseminating ourselves, we also work with embryos from the best mares, because we want to ensure the highest quality of our sport horses from the start' says Evelyne. 

Attention to knowledge transfer

The step to collect and inseminate semen yourself can be quite exciting at first. After Evelyne ordered products, on the advice of NIFA  going to take a KI course. 'A shot in the arm, in retrospect, because I was left with several questions: How warm should the water be? How much pressure do you put on the artificial sheath? But thanks to this KI course and NIFA Technologies, everything became clear. Dirk Postma explained everything to me clearly with a step-by-step plan, calmly and patiently. After practising twice it no longer felt like "technique", but something that belongs to my profession. NIFA is a partner who really wants you to understand, so you can work independently. 

I want to inseminate fresh. What do I need?

Composing the laboratory, Evelyne asked: 'I want to inseminate fresh. What do I need? NIFA helped me well with this, even with practical things, such as that I need different gloves because of my small hands. Everything is tailored to my situation.' 

Stud V.V. now uses among others: 

  • incubator to keep all products at the right temperature 
  • water bath to keep the thinners at the right temperature 
  • centrifuge to centrifuge the semen 
  • roller bench to keep the sperm moving in the tubes 
  • and a microscope with heating table and camera To check the quality of the sperm properly. 

For semen collection, Stud V.V. has a dummy mare, artificial sheath, heating cap, inner tube and funnel, among others. They also use pipettes, lubricant, cleaning fluid, proper gloves and so on for insemination.  

Success with J-Nius V.V. Z

One of the eye-catchers at Stud V.V. is the stallion J-Nius V.V., who has been hugely successful in breeding over the past year. His foals have achieved impressive results at auctions, with several foals sold for top prices. These successes underline not only J-Nius V.V.'s potential as a sire of exceptional talent, but also the meticulous breeding and expertise that accompany every step of the process at Stud V.V.

What Stud V.V. greatly appreciates

'We appreciate NIFA's good aftercare. In the beginning I had so many questions, but every time I got quick and clear answers. That gives confidence. NIFA thinks in terms of people and expertise. Thanks to them we now do it independently with knowledge, confidence and pride.' 

Team NIFA warmly thanks Stud V.V. for their trust in us. We appreciate the cooperation and are proud to support their work!

Looking for tailored advice?

We’re here to help you find the right products and solutions for your professional environment. Feel free to get in touch We’re here to help you find the right products and solutions for your professional environment. Feel free to contact us for personal consultation. 

 

GENETECH EUROPE - 'NIFA's technical expertise makes all the difference'

Genetech Europe, the European headquarters of the Genetech Group, focuses entirely on embryology, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), ovum pick-up and oocyte maturation (OPU uM) procedures, and fertility preservation in equine. Genetech engaged NIFA to assist in setting up these work processes.

Genetech Europe, the European headquarters of the Genetech Group, focuses entirely on embryology, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), ovum pick-up and oocyte maturation (OPU uM) procedures, and fertility preservation in equine. Genetech engaged NIFA to assist in setting up these work processes.

    

In addition, NIFA supports us in sourcing other specific products and materials. “In our field, we know exactly which equipment we need and how the procedures work best,” Isabeau explains. “But in Europe, certain items can be hard to obtain compared to overseas markets. That is where NIFA really makes the difference. They help us acquire specific products and provided excellent alternatives when something is unavailable.”

The collaboration started through a recommendation in the field. “We heard positive things from colleagues and reached out. From the beginning, it was clear how solution-oriented and involved NIFA is. They don’t just supply products, they truly think along with us.”

Support that goes beyond delivery

The collaboration started through a recommendation in the field. “We heard positive things from colleagues and reached out. From the beginning, it was clear how solution-oriented and involved NIFA is. They don’t just supply products, they truly think along with us.”

Noticeable improvement in practice

Since the collaboration with NIFA, Genetech has noticed clear benefits. “Our daily operations run more smoothly, which brings calmness and clarity to our team. NIFA is always reachable, honour its agreements, and the quality they deliver speaks for itself.”

Team NIFA would like to sincerely thank Genetech for the trust they've placed in us. We appreciate the collaboration and are proud to be able to support their work!

Looking for tailored advice?

We’re here to help you find the right products and solutions for your professional environment. Feel free to get in touch We’re here to help you find the right products and solutions for your professional environment. Feel free to contact us for personal consultation.

Optimize Freezing GDO - ‘Optimal freezing of dog semen’

Ensuring semen quality

There is significant research in reproductive science, but unfortunately, the findings often go unused. This might be due to high costs or simply a reluctance to break from tradition. I see great potential here, similar to what we see in the equine industry,’ says Guillaume. ‘Utilizing research findings is crucial. I am passionate about tailoring solutions. Each dog may require specialized sperm treatment to guarantee quality. 

Acquiring the right equipment

In pursuit of high-quality semen processing, Guillaume started looking for suitable equipment. Through IMV Technologies, he ended up with us. 'I appreciate the Dutch approach to work, so I was pleased to work with NIFA from the start. They have now installed all the necessary equipment at my facility, and I am delighted to have everything up and running.'  

At Optimize Freezing GDO, we had the opportunity to supply and install the following equipment. 

Compact Incubator 18 liters with 2 shelves

Guillaume: 'It is a small device, but it works efficiently for me.It takes about 15 minutes to warm up, which is perfect for having all my supplies warm when I need them.'

Nucleocounter SP-100

Guillaume: ‘I was already familiar with this machine before purchasing it. The device is used for measuring sperm concentration, but it can also assess sperm viability. It is an excellent machine that enables you to gather various parameters. The quality of the results is top-notch.’

Microptic CASA semen analyser Canine 

Guillaume: ‘The CASA provides an objective assessment of sperm motility and velocity. Specifically, it provides the values of a sperm parameter for each sperm subpopulation, not just the average value for the whole sperm population; for instance, progressive motility. Thus, I obtain a substantial amount of data to examine eventually.’ 

Contact

Are you also looking for new equipment for your practice? We are happy to advise you on what truly suits your needs. Feel free to contact Hans Jubbega.

Review

‘I have actually become a fan of NIFA. They listen to you and recommend the right equipment that suits your needs, budget and ambitions. I can ask them any question, and they know exactly what I am talking about. Personal contact is very important to me. The after-sales service is also very nice and runs smoothly. They act immediately if something seems to be wrong and guide you through it.’ 

About Guillaume

Guillaume studied veterinary medicine in Liege, and later pursued a PhD focusing on improving sperm cryopreservation in dogs at the University of Ghent. Simultaneously to his PhD, Guillaume completed the residency program and became one of the European specialists in small animals' reproduction (dipl. ECAR) in Belgium.  

He is available to anyone interested in having their dog's sperm frozen, from domestic pets to champion dogs. However, they need to travel to his lab in Belgium for high-quality semen freezing. Besides sperm freezing, his company offers services for storing and exporting frozen sperm, but also for inseminating female dogs on-site. To promote his business, Guillaume plans to attend dog shows in the future. 

His ambition is to expand his business and collaborate with other specialists, with advanced technology playing a significant role. We wish Guillaume all the success and enjoyment in his business venture!