CSS Certified Facility
- Background
Certified Semen Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB). It was formed following a decision made by NAAB delegates in 1975 to establish a program of industry self-regulation.
- The organizational meeting of CSS was held in 1976 followed by the hiring of the first Service Director. The CSS audit or inspection program for semen identification was initiated in January 1977. Two years later this program was expanded to include the area of sire health. During the past several years health requirements and procedural standards for health and identification have been modified as conditions are implemented only after thorough review and evaluation.
The CSS structure allows for additional services to be added to meet the needs of the AI industry. IN 1992 a new program to evaluate AI center management practices was implemented. Also in 1995 participation in the CSS program was extended to AI businesses located outside of the
CSS Structure
CSS is registered in
To provide an inspection service to inspect businesses engaged in the processing of livestock semen; to establish standards and rules to assure the authenticity of semen products; to disseminate information concerning the handling and processing of semen; to establish standard procedures for the protection of the user; to establish uniform labeling of semen containers; to facilitate the identification of semen products; and to engage in any other activity for improvement of animal agriculture.
To establish rules and procedures for certification of businesses processing livestock semen.
CSS is managed by a six member Board of Directors that are elected to one year terms by the NAAB shareholders. The chief administrative officer is the President of CSS and the Service Director conducts the audit program. The NAAB Committees, particularly Sire Health and Management have served as important resources and are a sounding board for CSS issues.
CSS is organized so that any AI business engaged in collection and processing of livestock semen is eligible to participate in and benefit from its services program upon entering an agreement for services. All regular NAAB members though are required to enter into an agreement with CSS as a provision of NAAM membership. NAAB membership is not required for CSS participation.
Currently there are 32 AI businesses participating in CSS. This represents 32 principal locations and 10 secondary locations or 42 total audit locations. Audit locations are found in 22 states across the
Distributors who purchase semen for resale directly from CSS approved processing organizations and only sell CSS processed semen are eligible to participates as a “CSS Exclusive Distributor.”
The CSS Service Director annually makes at least one unannounced audit visit to the offices and semen production facilities of each participating AI business. During the audit visit, procedures and records related to semen identification and sire health are objectively reviewed to determine compliance.
A complete report of this review or audit is provided to the president and manager of the AI business audited. The report outlines the identification and sire health procedures followed, and as needed recommends pertinent changes to correct any that are not in compliance with the agreement provisions. The audit report is confidential between CSS and the participating organization.
CSS Audit
Identification – - Identification from point of purchase or custom collection of the sire, throughout processing, distribution to the original point of sale of the processed semen is reviewed during the audit. This involves the Service Director checking records in several places at the AI business, observing identification procedures and asking employees pertinent questions. Normally the sequence of this evaluation follows the work flow of the production department, beginning in the collection area, then proceeding to the processing laboratory, followed by distribution area. This is followed by the bull housing and isolation facilities and then other departmental offices where pertinent records are evaluated.
Sire Health – - The “CSS Minimum Requirement for Disease Control of Semen Produced AI” outline specific testing procedures for bulls and mount animals before entering isolation, during isolation and for bulls housed in a central location after completely isolation. General sanitary conditions and requirements for the addition of appropriate antibiotics to semen and extender to control specific microorganisms are included. The CSS Minimum Requirements represent a comprehensive standard for those diseases proven to be a significant threat to be seminally transmitted by AI. The goal of the CSS Minimum Requirements is to protect the health of the heard in which semen is used.
CSS requirements are considered to be bottom-line minimum standards necessary to provide a disease-free semen product. Several participants typically exceed these requirements in their sire health programs. During the audit, various records pertaining to sire health and procedures are checked to determine compliance with CSS Minimum Requirements. Procedures are observed and checked in animal housing area, collection area and laboratory. Health test records are checked for completion of the appropriate CSS tests in the veterinary department.
AI Center Management Practices Evaluation Program
The voluntary program was implemented in January 1992 and is offered to any CSS participating organization wanting to have AI center management practices evaluated. It involves checking compliance with the “CSS Guidelines For AI Center Management Practices” and covers areas of General Welfare, Watering, Veterinary and Professional Care and Seminal Collection. It provides a uniform framework for monitoring AI industry management practices and provides documentary evidence that the participating organization and industry is concerned with animal welfare.