Artificial insemination of cows: methods and techniques, device and equipment of the point

Insemination - the introduction of bovine sperm into the cow's genital tract for conception. Cattle are fertilized by natural mating and artificial insemination, and the second method is more in demand in large livestock farms, as it is effective and does not require much time. An inseminator is engaged in artificial insemination of cows - a qualified worker who must know the rules for handling animals and the subtleties of a safe procedure.

Pros and cons

Artificial insemination is a convenient and popular method of fertilizing cattle.

Pros and consthe choice of semen of bulls with high breed characteristics improves the quality of the offspring;bull sperm is used sparingly - several females can be fertilized in one portion;bull semen is frozen without loss of viability for easy storage and transportation;semen-producing bulls are tested for infectious diseases, so the chance of a cow being infected is minimal;with proper implementation of the procedure, the probability of fertilization of a he althy cow is maximum.the procedure must be performed by a qualified inseminator who knows the anatomy of cattle;non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards threatens to infect the cow;small farms cannot hire a permanent inseminator, and it is difficult to find an experienced and qualified specialist for a while.

When and how many times should artificial insemination be done?

For successful artificial insemination, it is important to guess the optimal time for the fusion of germ cells. To do this, take into account several nuances:

The egg of a cow is ready to merge with the sperm no longer than 10 hours. After this time, the aged cell becomes non-contact, and if the fusion occurs, then the risk of pathological development of the embryo increases. Therefore, sperm must enter the genital tract of the cow before ovulation.
Sperm must break through the shell of the egg. It takes 4-6 hours before ovulation.
Bovine spermatozoa with natural insemination live 2 days, with artificial insemination - a day. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the seed material for the procedure a day before ovulation.

The optimal time for artificial insemination is 3-4 am. At this hour, ovulation is inhibited, corresponding to the days from the end of the rut. If sexual hunting is in the morning, then insemination should be in the evening - at 18-19 hours.

Sperm is injected before milking or at least 2 hours after it. You can’t before 2:00: the cow’s brain gives a signal that causes the uterus to block the acceptance of sperm.

Artificial insemination is carried out 2 times. First time right after rut, second time 10 hours later.

Preparation for the process

First of all, you need to clean the room. As disinfectants, it is necessary to use preparations without aggressive chemical components. The stall should be cleaned of manure and dirty bedding, sprayed with water from a hose under pressure.

The veterinarian should examine the cow, make an analysis for the absence of infection. The area of the tail, vulva, anus, inner thighs is washed with warm soapy water, wiped with a clean cloth. If rectocervical insemination is planned, then a rectal examination is performed for the absence of inflammatory foci, feces are removed from the rectum. The vagina is treated with the Furacilin antiseptic solution.

Tools are disinfected with drugs or fire. The inseminator, after washing his hands with soap, puts on sterile rubber gloves, lubricates them with medical alcohol, then Vaseline.

What tools and materials will be needed

Artificial insemination is carried out in a separate room with an arena, a cow preparation department, a laboratory department.

Arrangement and equipment of the room:

arena is equipped with machines that fix the cow for the safety of manipulation;
in the laboratory department there is a catheter, a syringe, containers with biomaterial, a microscope;
in the preparatory department there is a sink, disinfectants, work clothes.

Bull selection

Both with natural mating and with artificial insemination, bulls are more significant for the formation of the breed qualities of future offspring than cows. In a year, one inseminator becomes the parent of several hundred calves.

The main indicator of bull selection is pedigree. Evaluate the breed qualities of the manufacturer for three generations. A good bull should be the offspring of females with high milk production and milk fat content, and males with productivity genes. The second indicator is the physique and body weight of the cattle. A bull suitable for insemination is distinguished by a developed muscle mass, strong and fleshy hind limbs, and large reproductive organs. You should also consider the quality of sperm, the percentage of viable spermatozoa.

How to identify a cow ready for insemination?

A cow entering estrus changes behavior:

worries, shows aggression;
rushing around the paddock, pasture;
eating badly;
breathing fast;
shows interest in members of the opposite sex;
puts its head on the back of other animals;
trying to lick the genital area of other heifers;
he alth is affected by increased heart rate and increased body temperature;
milk production is decreasing.

The hormonal cycle in a cow resumes after 18-24 days. The cycle is divided into 3 phases: excitement, relaxation, balance. The first phase is the time of egg maturation. Estrogens are released into the blood, estrus begins. Sexual hunting lasts 10-20 hours. During this period, the vulva swells and turns red, first a clear liquid flows out of the vagina, then a viscous and viscous mucus, sometimes with blood streaks. The cervix opens slightly, its muscles relax.

To determine the cow in the hunt, a probe bull is launched into the herd. The method is optimal for large livestock. A probe is a sexually mature male whose seminal ducts are surgically clamped.In a herd of 100 females, it is enough to run one bull. A dye mark is attached to the male's neck. Cows whose backs are painted after walking with a bull are in heat.

There is a phenomenon of false hunting, when the cow is worried, interested in males outside of ovulation. The reasons for this phenomenon are different, but more often it is associated with the formation of cysts in the genitals.

In large farms, other methods of determining the heat of a cow are also practiced:

measuring vaginal and rectal temperature;
study of crystallization of cervical mucus under a microscope;
analysis of cow activity and behavior;
measuring the electrical resistance of the vaginal tissues (it decreases significantly during ovulation due to increased humidity).

Insemination methods and techniques

There are 4 methods of artificial insemination of a cow. In each case, the introduction of seminal fluid into the uterus is implied, the differences are only in the technique of introduction. The semen should have a temperature of 36-38 °C.

the gloved hand is immersed in the anus of the cow, the genitals are groped, the catheter is inserted into the genital tract with the other hand, the hand in the rectum is clasped around the neck, the tip of the catheter is groped, the instrument is advanced deeper 5-8 cm into the cervix, inject sperm, remove the catheter fertilization will be successful only if the cervical walls are relaxed, otherwise the sperm will not be able to penetrate into the uterus, and rectocervical insemination may end injurymanocervicalcatheter, sterile sperm vial, veterinary gloves gloved hand is immersed in the genital tract, the vagina is massaged for about 2 minutes, the sperm catheter is inserted into the cervix, advanced 6-8 cm, the sperm is poured into the relaxed uterus, massaged again to receive the sperm by the uterus, the hand is carefully removed from the vagina the method is not applicable at home, the cow is taken to the insemination point, the vaginal method of introducing sperm is not for beginners, the inseminator must be trained, know the anatomy of the urogenital system of cattle, the technique is not suitable for insemination of young females with a narrow vagina the method is used to inseminate females who have not given birth before, as well as individuals with small body dimensions

Insemination method	Tools and materials	Execution technique	Notes
visocervical	4 containers with tight lids (1 - with sodium chloride solution, 2 - with 70% alcohol, 3 and 4 - with sodium chloride), catheter, illuminated mirror, containers for waste fluids	instruments are alternately treated with 4 solutions, a warm speculum is inserted into the cervix, a catheter is inserted 4 cm into the cervix, sperm is injected, the catheter is removed, then the speculum	the operator performing the procedure must be qualified, since there is a high probability of injuring the neck

	epicervical	catheter, vet glove	gloved hand is immersed in the anus, the uterus is massaged through the colon, a catheter is inserted, sperm is poured into the vagina closer to the neck, the catheter is removed, the clitoris is massaged to receive sperm by the uterus

Further animal care

In order for artificial insemination to be successful, after the procedure, the cow is provided with peace and quiet. A separate clean stall is prepared for her, the daily portion of feed is increased.

For half a month the animal is under close supervision. If there is no deterioration in he alth, then the cow is connected with the rest of the herd.

Signs of successful insemination

Successful artificial insemination is determined in the following ways:

rectal or vaginal check;
to change the cow's behavior - after about 10 days she starts to avoid bulls;
due to the absence of another estrus;
According to a blood test on the 20-23rd day after insemination - an increase in the concentration of progesterone indicates the onset of pregnancy.

A cow carries a calf, like a woman - 9 months. External signs of pregnancy become noticeable after about a month. If insemination was unsuccessful, then a new sexual hunt begins. In this situation, repeated artificial insemination is carried out. A total of 4 attempts are made, if all are unsuccessful, then the cow is diagnosed with a “functional disorder of the reproductive organs.”

Possible errors and difficulties

Inexperienced inseminators often make gross mistakes, due to which artificial insemination is ineffective, and the cow is injured or injures the worker. The main mistakes and difficulties that arise during artificial insemination of cattle:

Hygiene and unsanitary conditions. Use of unsterilized instruments, which leads to infection of animals.
Ignoring the need to examine the cow for readiness for fertilization and the absence of inflammatory processes.
Accidental contact with Vaseline-lubricated gloves on the catheter. Vaseline acts as a spermicide, destroys spermatozoa, as a result, fertilization does not occur.
Wrong temperature conditions for storing sperm. It must be stored in liquid nitrogen.
Using an obliquely cut ampoule, which causes sperm to flow into the syringe instead of the cervix.
Incorrect advancement of the catheter, getting it into the urethra. The correct catheter angle is 30°.
Dipping the catheter too deep, fraught with injury to the uterine walls.
Squeezing sperm not into the neck, but into the blind pocket surrounding it.
Rough treatment of a cow. The animal either goes berserk, injures the abuser, or fails to conceive due to the stress it has suffered.

To avoid the above problems, farmers should hire inseminators with experience, qualifications, excellent knowledge of cattle anatomy and a high reputation. Also, the specialist is required to be able to accurately identify the period of estrus in a cow.