The Key to Artificial Insemination

1. The Key to Artificial Insemination Ms. Dixon Animal I

2. Timing • Heifers or cows that show signs of estrus in the morning should be inseminated in the evening • Heifers or cows that show signs of estrus in the evening should be inseminated in the morning. • Please refer back to your estrous chart that was included in your anatomy handouts

3. Procedures 1. Restrain the animal in a parlor or chute 2. Carefully remove the selected straw of semen from the liquid nitrogen tank using the straw tweezers 3. All semen should be thawed. Place the straw in the thawing unit, that is filled with water, until it reaches 95 – 98 degrees Fahrenheit

4. Procedures 4. Using a paper towel, dry the straw thoroughly 5. Pull the inseminating gun back about 4 -6 inches 6. Insert the straw and the cut the tip off of the end

5. Procedures 7. Place the cover sheath over the end of the gun and secure it 8. Place inseminating gun inside your shirt to thermally protect the semen 9. Lubricate the glove using the non-spermicidal lubricant

6. Procedures 10. Insert the gloved arm into the vulva and then clean out the rectum using a paper towel 11. Place a fold paper towel in the vulva 12. Locate the cervix

7. Procedures 13. Using your free hand, carefully insert the inseminating gun upward into the vulva to avoid injury • 14. Slide the inseminating gun through the cervix • 15. Deposit the semen slowly into the uterus by pushing the plunger

8. Procedures • 16. Slowly remove the inseminating gun • 17. Record the breeding information

9. Advantages of A.I. • 1. Maximum use is made of outstanding sires • 2. Certain physical handicaps of mating can be overcome • 3. Danger and cost of keeping a sire is eliminated

10. Disadvantages of A.I. • 1. Skilled technicians are required or producer/farmer has to take a A.I. class to learn technique • 2. May accentuate the damage of a poor sire • 3. A.I. breeding organizations require large investment of capital & management