Thanks Oggidoggy and Rebanne - lesson learned - we did not have a contract..... There was no mating the first time (stud fee paid) and we returned for Surgical AI. Following whelping the a fee for semen has been requested. All vet expenses paid by me. I really did not expect a fee almost equal to the stud fee for the semen. my query was - is it usual to pay both a stud fee and a fee for the semen for AI?