Process of Artificial Insemination in Cattle
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History
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The first person to use artificial insemination (AI) successfully in cattle appears to have been E.I. Ivanoff, a Russian scientist, around 1900. Russia was the first country to use AI in cows; in 1931, Russian farmers used it to breed nearly 20,000 cows.
Since then, artificial insemination has dramatically grown in popularity among cattle producers; by 1970, the USDA reported that U.S. farmers were using AI in 46 percent of the dairy cattle population.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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Artificial insemination has many advantages. A herdsman can maintain a superior bloodline without having the added expense of purchasing a bull and can service many more cows than with natural breeding. AI also makes it possible to detect infertile bulls early and eliminates the danger of handling bulls during breeding.
The major drawback to AI of cattle is that the farmer must either hire an AI technician or have adequate training and experience to perform the process correctly to ensure conception. He must also be able to detect accurately the heat cycle of the cow to ensure she is receptive to breeding.
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Semen Collection
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There are several methods for collecting semen. The most common is the use of an artificial vagina; in this method, the bull is allowed to mount a cow and his penis is directed into the artificial vagina.
Once semen is collected, technicians dilute it to increase the number of cows that can be inseminated. The most-used materials to dilute semen are made from egg yolks or pasteurized, homogenized milk. Both of these help keep the sperm alive longer, as well as adding to the volume of the semen. A normal collection from a healthy bull can be extended to inseminate 300 to 1,000 cows.
Technicians also add glycerol to the semen extender to remove water from the sperm cell so that the semen can be frozen for storage without damage. The semen is frozen with either a dry ice and alcohol mixture or liquid nitrogen; the nitrogen is better for long-term storage as it keeps fertility from deteriorating longer than dry ice and alcohol.
Insemination Procedure
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The most common AI method used on cattle is called the rectovaginal technique. With this technique, the technician inserts a disposable catheter containing thawed semen into the vagina and guides it into the cervix with a gloved hand inserted into the cow's rectum. Because the vaginal walls are made up of thin muscle, he can easily feel the catheter through the wall between the rectum and vagina.
He passes the catheter through the cervix into the uterus and slowly deposits part of the semen, then deposits the rest into the cervix as he withdraws the catheter. This process may be repeated later to decrease the chance of conception failure.
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Comments
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how can insemination be carried out.
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its ok
