Methods of Passing AI rod & AI Gun in Female
Reproductive Tract
Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination (AI) is a process by which sperm are collected from the male, processed,
stored and artificially introduced into the female reproductive tract for the purpose of
conception.
History of AI
The history of AI is interesting.
Old Arabian documents dated around 1322 A.D. indicate that an Arab chieftain wanted
to mate his prize mare to an outstanding stallion owned by an enemy. He introduced a
wand of cotton into the mare's reproductive tract, then used it to sexually excite the
stallion causing him to ejaculate. The semen was introduced into the mare resulting in
conception.
Anthony van Leeuwen hook, inventor of the microscope, first observed human
spermatozoa under magnification. This finding led to further research.
Spallanzani is usually considered the inventor of AI. His scientific reports of 1780
indicate successful use of AI in dogs.
In 1899, Ivan off of Russia pioneered AI research in birds, horses, cattle and sheep. He
was apparently the first to successfully inseminate cattle artificially.
Mass breeding of cows via AI was first accomplished in Russia, where 19,800 cows were
bred in 1931.
Denmark was first to establish an AI cooperative association in 1936.
E.J. Perry of New Jersey visited the AI facilities in Denmark and established the first
United States AI cooperative in 1938 at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture.
The AI industry has grown tremendously in the United States since its beginning.
In 1970, USDA reported that 7,344,420 dairy females were bred artificially, 46% of the
female dairy cattle population.
For successful artificial insemination, following oint should be noted:
Best location of semen deposition.
Best time of Artificial Insemination.
Knowledge about structure & function of reproductive system.
TECHNIQUES 0F ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
Insemination in cow is the final phase of Artificial Insemination. All the phases from collection,
evaluation, extension and preservation become useless if the semen is not deposited artificially
in the female tract at optimum time in a proper place so as to obtain maximum fertility.
In artificial insemination the semen can be deposited in any part of the reproductive tract and
accordingly various methods are adopted to deposit the semen in female tract.
1) VAGINAL INSEMINATION
This is possibly the oldest and easiest method employed earlier and now it is out of
date.
In this method the vulva is cleaned and washed.
A sterilized speculum is introduced in the vagina.
The operator with head light inspects the vagina.
Semen is taken in a syringe which is attached with an insemination pipette.
This pipette is placed in the vulva and pointing it upward and directed towards external
OS.
The suburethal diverticulum is be avoided and the semen is deposited in posterior
vagina near external 0S.
Advantage
Easy to perform
Disadvantage
The main disadvantage of vaginal insemination is that it requires large volume of semen
conception rate is low.
The possible reason is that in extended semen the sperm number is much less than neat
semen.
Moreover, as many sperms are lost in the vagina few can reach the cervix and these
numbers may not be optimum for fertilization of ovum.
In addition, sterilized speculum is required for each cow. It means involvement of larger
number of speculum.
The minimum requirement of semen is about 4 ml with a concentration of 10 million
spermatozoa per ml.
2) CERVICAL INSEMINATION
(a) THE SPECULUM METHOD
The vulva is to be cleaned.
The speculum and insemination pipette are properly sterilized.
One assistant holds the vulva lip apart.
The speculum is to be lubricated by sterile liquid paraffin and inserted in the
vagina.
The cervix is located by light on head of the operator.
The insemination pipette is introduced in the vagina through the speculum and
directed upward bypassing the suburethral diverticulum.
After reaching the cervix it is to be inserted into the cervical canal.
The semen is to be drawn in a syringe and this syringe will now be attached with
the adopter of the pipette resting in cervix.
Finally, the semen is deposited in the cervix.
Some air should also to be pushed to ensure that the whole amount of semen is
expelled from the tube.
The speculum and insemination tube are withdrawn and are kept separated
from sterilized instruments.
Advantage
Cervical insemination is easy to perform but have some serious limitation.
Disadvantage
There must be stock of good number of speculum of various sizes.
The speculum is to be cleaned and sterilized after each insemination.
Carrying large number of clean sterile speculum may not be convenient
and expenditure will be also more.
The conception rate is lower than rectovaginal insemination
(b) MANNUAL CERVICAL METHOD
In this method the vulva is washed.
A glove is put on the hand and it is lubricated with mineral oil.
The hand is introduced with the insemination pipette in the vagina and with the
help of fingers the pipette is guided to cervix.
The pipette is gently pushed to enter further in the cervix and the semen is
deposited at that place.
3) INTERPERITONIAL INSEMINATION
It is Possible to bypass the cervix and introduce semen inter periotonially.
This is done by piercing the vaginal wall near to posterior os and the semen is
deposited near the ovary containing mature follicle.
Conception can be achieved by this method
This method of insemination is seldom performed
4) RECTOVAGINAL OR CERVICAL FIXATION METHOD
This is most widely used and universally accepted method to inseminate a cow.
The procedure adopted is as follows :
The cow to be inseminated is secured in a crate.
The operator Wears protective clothing and gum boot.
The semen is drawn in a 2 ml syringe.
The Operator wears full sleeved gloves which should be lubricated.
The hand is cupped and inserted into rectum.
By back racking the feces is removed.
If there is contraction the hand may be rested in one place.
By massaging the contraction ring forward and backward it may be possible to
eliminate the ring.
The genital organ at this stage is to be palpated to determine if the cow is in
proper heat and also to eliminate pregnancy.
Now the vulva is cleaned with swab of cotton wool and then assistant may dilate
the vulva with his fingers.
The insemination pipette is introduced in the vagina at 20°-30° angle to avoid the
suburethal diverticulum.
Now the hand that is in rectum should locate the cervix and the thumb is placed
over opening of external OS.
The insemination pipette is directed towards the Opening of external OS.
Sometimes the pipette may be obstructed in the folds of vaginal musculature.
In such case the cervix should be pulled forward.
When the pipette reaches near the cervix it is guided through the cervical
opening by the thumb which is placed over it.
The mid cervix is a safe and ideal site for insemination and the depth of
penetration can be easily ascertained by the rigidity of the tube introduced into
the cervix.
Occasionally it may be difficult to penetrate the cervix for its small size as may
occur in virgin heifer or pathological lesion.
In such cases the cervix should be rotated at right angle of the pipette so that it
passes the ring of cervix.
The most important point that is to be remembered is not to traumatize the
cervix.
If the resistance is too much semen should be deposited as far as the pipette will
go gently and the dose of semen may be increased to compensate the loss of
spermatozoa in the vagina.
Once the desired site is reached the syringe containing the semen is attached
with the adopter.
With the help of the same the semen is deposited at the proper site.
Advantages
Conception rate is higher than other methods of insemination
It require few instruments to be sterilized after insemination.
The genitalia can be examined to determine the stage of estrous cycle, any pathological
condition of genitalia and to eliminate pregnancy.
Disadvantage
It is difficult to learn.
It may cause trauma in the cervix.
Accidental inter uterine deposition may lead to pyometra, abortion in early pregnancy &
maceration of fetus.
5) Intrauterine Laparoscopic Insemination:
Food and water should be withheld from the ewe for ~12 hr.
Ewes should be sedated with 1.5–2 mg xylazine, IM, and placed in cradles that restrain
and invert them, first in dorsal recumbency for preparation of the abdomen.
Local anesthetic may be injected SC at two sites (~4 cm on each side of the ventral
midline and ~6 cm anterior to the udder).
The cradle is then raised at the posterior end so that the ewe is tilted at ~45° with the
lateral abdomen presented to the operator.
The anesthetized sites allow for entrance of two trocars and cannulae; carbon dioxide is
insufflated through the first cannula to distend the abdomen.
The laparoscope is inserted through the near cannula, the uterine horns are visualized,
and a glass or plastic inseminating pipette or sheathed inseminating gun is inserted
through the second cannula.
Semen is deposited into the lumen of the uterus.
Conception rates are similar if semen is deposited into one or both horns of the uterus.
6) Transcervical Insemination
Transcervical catheterization (TC) refers to a procedure, which allows placing an
instrument into the uterine lumen in a non‐invasive way through the vagina and
cervix.
This can be performed manually in large animals thanks to the size of the
reproductive tract and to the fact that the cervix can be manipulated through the
rectum.
In small animals, this has been impossible to realize until 25 years ago when
Scandinavian investigators reported on the successful adaptation of a fox
transcervical catheter to bitches (Linde‐Forsberg and Forsberg 1989; Linde‐Forsberg
1991).
A few years later, the catheterization of the canine cervix using a human
cystourethroscope was reported (Wilson 1993).
Canine TC was further improved through adaptation to dogs of a human
ureteroscope (Lopate 2012), which allows better manipulation of the cervix and
faster catheterization.
The TC procedure is gradually becoming a routine technique for canine artificial
insemination as it provides improved fertility, particularly when using frozen or poor
quality semen.
