ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TECHNIQUE

DR GH RASOOL

VETERINARY CLINICAL COMPPLEX, FVSc & AH

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Artificial Insemination (AI)
Technique of deposition of semen in the female geniatal
tract
Better defined as
Semen Collection, evaluation, dilution, preservation and
deposition in the body of female reproductive tract at
estrus and its successful conception

AI has proved its great contribution in

• genetic improvement in dairy cattle

• improving milk production

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 Artificial Insemination Technique in Bovines

1. Back racking
2.Grasp the Cervix 8. Deposit the semen slowly in the
uterine body just in front of internal
Os

Bax

3. Insert loaded AI Gun through

vulva at an angle of 45 ͦ from long axis

7. Palpate the gun

tip in body of uterus
by index finger

6. Twist and bend

the cervix to pass
4. Proceed the gun into the gun through
vagina by palpating gun tip 5. Palpate external Os & guide the gun tip into cervix cervical rings
 Artificial Insemination

Thaw semen straw @ 37◦ C, 30 Sec.

Wipe the straw with tissue paper

Cut the Laboratory seal with scissors evenly

Withdraw the plunger of gun and load the straw

Apply plastic sheath over the barrel of AI gun

Lock the sheath with knob

Advantages of artificial insemination:
• Dissemination of best available germ plasm
• Early progeny testing of a sire
• High pedigreed physically handicapped cows/sires can be
successfully bred/utilized by collecting semen
• Easy transportation of semen from one country to other
and within the country
• Deep freezing storage of semen for years & semen is
available for utilization even after death of the sire
• Allows check on semen quality
• Reducing the incidence of venereal diseases
• Cuts down expenditure on maintenance of bulls
• Complete and accurate breeding records for better herd
management
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Work done in India
• 1939 - First time, AI was done by Sampat Kumaran at ‘Palace Dairy
Farm Mysore”. Large number of Halliker cows inseminated with
semen of Holstein Friesian and 33 cows got pregnant.
• 1942 - Pilot project started at IVRI to study the feasibility of AI
under the guidance of Dr. P. Bhattacharya & his team of Dr. S.S.
Prabhu, Dr. D.P. Mukherjee, Dr. S.N. Luktuke, Dr. A roy and Dr.
Garjan Singh. Team approved the technique to be used in Indian
Condition since then, this technique has come into general use as a
regular practice of breeding for cattle and buffaloes.
• 1942 - Four regional centres were established at Bangalore,
Calcutta, Patna and Montgomery (Now in Pakistan) by Govt. of
India.
• 1943-The first buffalo calf through AI was born at the Allahabad
Agricultural Institute.

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Interventions under Different Plans for Dairy Development
First Five Year Plan (1951– 56)
Establishment of Key Village Schemes (1952)
146 key village blocks with AI centres
Establishment of 650 veterinary hospitals
Second Five Year Plan (1956 – 61)
Establishment of 196 key village blocks with 670 AI centres
Establishment of 1900 veterinary hospitals
Third Five Year Plan (1961 – 66)
143 government milk supply schemes in big towns
Establishment of NDDB
Establishment of a separate department for dairy development in each
State
Fourth Five Year Plan (1969 – 74)
Launch of Operation Flood, phase I
Establishment of progeny testing scheme – All India Co-ordinated Project
on Buffaloes
Shift of breeding policy from dual purpose cows to cross-bred cows
Formation of Indian Dairy Corporation
Fifth Five Year Plan (1974 – 79)
Implementation of Operation Flood, phase II
Sixth Five Year Plan (1980 –85)
Establishment of frozen semen stations in different States
Seventh Five Year Plan (1985 – 90)
Implementation of Operation Flood, phase III
Tenth Five
Note: No Year
major Plan
dairy (2002 – programmes
development 07) were launched during the Eighth and Ninth Plan periods
Conservation of threatened indigenous breeds 7
Central and State livestock research institutions
in India

o IVRI
o NDRI
o State Agricultural/ Veterinary Universities
o National-level bodies like NDDB and
o National Bank of Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD)
o NGOs

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Constraints:

Unorganized sector
• Holdings are very small, predominantly owned by EWS.
• Inadequate investment.
• Inadequate extension activity.

Inadequate availability of Good Germ Plasm

• Use of non-descript bulls.
• Low producing Cattle & Buffalo
• Low A. I. Coverage.
• Inadequate door-step delivery of services.

Health & Nutrition

• Low veterinary health coverage
• Inadequate fodder & feed resources

Reproductive issues
• Low conception rate
• Trust on natural service.
• Long dry periods/ late maturity.
• Infertile Animals: repeat breeding, anestrus, uterine
infection, retention of placenta
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Lack of farmer’s awareness about:

• accurate and efficient estrus detection procedures.

• importance of record keeping,
• use of heat abatement devices during summer,
• appropriate estrus detection schedule
• estrus detection signs to be looked for before taking
the animal for artificial insemination (AI).

Persons engaged in AI using imperfect AI procedures:

• Lack of training
• Wrong time of AI
• Faulty semen tank management
• Handling semen within the tank
• Thawing semen
• Semen motility check.

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eproductive Efficiency: pregnancy rate (PR)
Production and Economic Efficiency

PR =Conception rate (>40%) X Estrus Detection rate (≥80%

Accurate Estrus Detection Rate is must

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Heat detection
• Proper heat detection and AI at proper time are very essential to
achieve higher conception rate
• The failure to detect heat is the most common and costly
problem of AI programs and the major limiting factor of
reproductive performance on many dairies 

Primary sign of heat

Cow stands to allow a herd mate to mount

Secondary signs
Attempting to mount other animals, chin resting, increased
activity, clear mucus discharge from the vulva, and swelling
and redness of the vulva

A successful AI program must include efficient and accurate heat

detection and timely AI relative to ovulation.

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Importance of Heat Detection Relative to
Ovulation
• The interval from the onset of standing activity to
ovulation is approximately 28 h in lactating dairy
cattle.
• The physiological relationship linking ovulation to the
onset of standing activity highlights the importance of
accurate heat detection.
• Many biological events occur within this limited
window:
• The transportation of viable sperm from the site
of deposition to the site of fertilization
• The functional viable lifespan of sperm and ova
• The timing of ovulation in relation to AI
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Biological events contributing to the optimization of AI

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Heat detection
• Observe cows for heat signs
• Heat detection aids
Teaser bull, tail paint or chalk, heat mount
detectors- Kamar, Bovine Beacon etc. and
automated systems- HeatWatch etc.
• Electrical resistance of vaginal mucous membrane
• Progesterone estimation
• To keep proper fertility records of individual cows
Heat detection aids and automated systems when
used in conjunction with visual observation and
appropriate records always yield better results

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Synchronization of ovulation protocol for FTAI during the
breeding or off breeding season in buffalo

Baruselli et al 2007
Handling of frozen semen
• LN2 level in shipment and receiving containers
should be maintained.
• Frozen semen container at the AI centre must
have the following information:
 Complete identification of semen in each canister
and goblet.
 Complete schedule of refilling of LN2 along with
the signature of person who has filled it.
 Periodical checking of LN2 level must be ensured in
containers.

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Critical steps during thawing of frozen semen:
• Remove the lid of the container.
• Remove the identified canister of desired semen.
• Lift the canister upto frost line located 5-6 cm
from the top of the neck.
• Remove straw quickly by grasping with tweezers
(pre cooled in LN2 vapours)
• After a flick to the straw to dislodge LN2, place in
water as soon as possible.
• Lower the canister to the bottom to its place in
the container.
• Replace the lid of the cryo-container.
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How to achieve maximum Conception to AI ?
• Identify cows in heat accurately
• Go for AI at or few hours tafter the peak estrus as ovulation
occurs after peak estrogen surge which leads LH surge and
then ovulation
• Follow the AI recommendations
• Observe proper temperature and procedure for
thawing of semen
• Use appropriate hygienic procedures
• Maintain thermal protection of straws during AI
gun assembly and transport to the cow
• Deposit semen in the uterus of the cow within
approximately 10 to 15 minutes after thawing
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For success of AI ensure cows/buffaloes are
physiologically competent at the beginning of the
breeding season by using:
• Sound nutrition
• A planned herd health
• Proper facilities and animal handling
• A controlled and successful breeding program
Use Proven Reproductive Strategies:
• Estrus synchronization systems which are effective in
cycling and non-cycling females.
• Improve estrus detection efficiency or eliminate the
need for estrus detection or Highly consider fixed-time
AI systems
• Use semen from CSS approved/reliable suppliers.
Don’t overlook the human variable…Make sure:
• Commitment
• Communication
• Competency 22
Thanks

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