Artificial Insemination

History:

Arab chieftan tale

• Antony van Leeuwenhook, Dutch inventor of the microscope, was the first person to observe sperm under magnification.

In 1780, Lazzaro Spallanzani, an Italian physiologist, was the first to record the successful use of AI in his work with dogs and is considered the inventor of AI.

Ivanoff of Russia pioneered AI research in birds, horses, cattle, and sheep in 1899.

He was the first to successfully inseminate cattle artificially.

AI was first used on a large scale by Russia to reestablish its livestock industry following World War I and Britain used it for the same purpose following World War II.

Why AI?

1. Increase Production2. Proves more sires3. Eliminates danger and expense of keeping

bulls and total bulls needed4. Helps control disease5. Prolongs service life of sires6. Reduces injury 7. Improves management with better record

keeping8. Allows crossbreeding to be used to a max9. Decreases overall sire costs

Why not AI?

Human Detection of Heat Requires a skilled tech May be subject to abuses May accentuate poor traits

The head is of great importance because it contains the chromosomes (DNA).

The neck is short and contains the anterior centromere.

The body is approximately the same length as the head.

The lashing of the tail causes the sperm to move.

Although minor differences occur in their sizes, all spermatozoa are extremely small (much smaller than the egg cells, or ova).

Methods of semen collection:

Artificial vagina

Electrical stimulation: Electrode in the rectum

Collection

Massage of the Ampullae

insert the hand into the rectum and massages the ampullae and accessory glands, causing semen to drip from the sheath.

• may be contaminated with urine and may contain too much accessory gland secretion for the number of sperm present.

Semen recovery from the vagina

the semen in the anterior vagina is aspirated into a syringe by means of a glass or rubber catheter introduced into the vagina

Usually mixed with female secretionsSpreads disease quickly

Semen testing:

Dilute semen

Species

Bull 1:200 5 cc15 million

Stallion ----- 5-10 cc 250 million

Boar 1:8 50-100 cc 2 million

Ram 1:1 0.5 cc 50 million

Semen Dilution Ratio Volume of Semen

Needed per Service

Number of Spermper Insemination

Volume of Semen & Concentration Per Insemination

AI equipment:

Semen straw: holds the semen; has an end plugged with cotton and another sealed end

Semen Tank

Keeps semen frozen at

-320 degrees F Canes: sit in canister

and hold straws Canister: holds canes

Tweezers: used to extract semen straws out of canes and put in thaw box (need to be plastic)

Thaw Box: fill with water and heat to 95 degrees F

Cito Straw Cutter: clips crimped the end of the straw

Gun: holds the semen strawSpiret: used to screw into sow’s vagina to

deposit semen

Sheath: protective coveringO-ring: holds sheath in placeSpeculum: opens up the vagina to locate

the cervix

Other equipment needed:

Paper towelsGlovesKY jelly