Extreme care must be practiced when handling semen. It is very sensitive to changes in temperature. Water is lethal to sperm cells. Ram semen should be thawed according to the protocol provided by those freezing the semen. Their normal breeding season extends from about August to March, depending upon breed and geographic location.
Ewes begin cycling in the fall when the day length becomes shorter.
Day 0 of the cycle begins with ovulation, the release of a mature follicle, containing the egg. Female domestic livestock are far from promiscuous. The ewe is receptive to the ram for only 24-36 hours. One of the keys to a successful AI program is knowing when to inseminate the female. The ewe ovulates at approximately 48 hours after the onset of heat.