Natural insemination of cows with the development of science and technology of animal husbandry is increasingly losing its relevance. Today, cattle are much easier to artificially inseminate. Moreover, there are several productive methods, the success of which is confirmed in 60-70 cases out of a hundred. Insemination in this way can be streamlined, making it faster and more efficient.
Material sampling
Definition of heat in cows
Insemination of a cow should be carried out in case of heat, which occurs 12-24 hours after estrus has begun, and lasts only 24-32 hours.
The main external signs of hunting will be a motionless reflex and attempts to put a head on another animal.
Ovulation takes place in the middle or at the end of the hunt. At this time, the egg leaves the ovary, which increases the productivity of the artificial insemination method in this particular period.
The best time for insemination
In order for artificial insemination of cows to be as successful as possible, it must be carried out in a timely manner, taking into account a whole list of factors.
On average, puberty in animals occurs by 8-10 months of age. But the following points may affect the readiness for reproduction (usually at 2 years):
- breed of animal;
- climatic zone;
- the composition of the daily diet;
- quality of care and conditions of detention.
A calving cow can be inseminated again after 20-40 days. In the presence of full feeding, artificially cows can be inseminated for 2 months of lactation. If you are breeding breeds with high productivity, it is better to choose 3 months of lactation.
A calving cow can be inseminated again after 20-40 days
To accurately determine the onset of insemination time, you should pay attention to signs of a physiological nature:
- the animal reflexively maintains a motionless posture in case of jumping up by other individuals;
- the genitals are somewhat enlarged, there are abundant discharge;
- detection of a mature follicle after rectal diagnosis of the ovary.
Insemination is carried out twice: immediately after the detection of heat and 12 hours later – before milking is carried out.
In about 90% of heifers and about 50% of cows after insemination, discharge with blood can be observed. This serves as further confirmation that the animals were in the hunt. However, such discharge is not a sign of success or no success of fertilization.
Methods for artificial insemination of cows
Artificial insemination implies a list of actions related to its preparation and implementation. The procedures should be carried out by professionals who have zootechnical knowledge and sufficient experience in the relevant matter.
The procedure is carried out in specially equipped rooms, including an arena, a place for washing and a laboratory. Inside the arena, the insemination itself takes place, the washing room is necessary for washing and disinfecting the containers used, and in the laboratory there is a microscope, chemicals and all the necessary equipment.
Manocervical
For this method you will need:
- disposable rubber gloves 82 cm long;
- clean ampoules;
- catheters 75*4,8 mm.
Important! All utensils are heat treated before use. The seed is placed in an ampoule connected to the catheter, which is still in the package.
Proper insemination implies the following list of mandatory sequential procedures:
- Treatment of the vulva with a solution of furacilin or distilled water.
- A glove soaked in 0,9% saline solution is put on the hand. After that, it is inserted into the vagina and it is determined whether the cervix is open.
- In the case of a positive result, it is necessary to lightly massage the vagina for one and a half to two minutes.
- With the other hand, you should take the catheter and the ampoule, insert it into the vagina and advance the catheter 1,4-2 cm along the cervical canal. After simultaneously with the massage of the cervix, the ampoule is advanced with the palm of your hand. It is necessary that the catheter plunges 6-8 cm into the cervical canal.
- The ampoule is lifted and squeezed out. So that no sperm remains in the ampoule, it is necessary to squeeze it out from the bottom to the place where the ampoule connects to the catheter.
- The unopened ampoule, together with the catheter, is brought inside the vagina. Then the cervix is massaged again and the instruments are completely removed. Try to make it painless. Otherwise, uterine contraction and ejection of the seed is possible.
The manocervical method has some disadvantages:
- this method cannot inseminate individuals with a narrowed vagina;
- the risk of infection in case of improper adherence to asepsis standards;
- the specialist must be thoroughly aware of the features of the reproductive system of cattle, as well as its location in the pelvic region.
Insemination of cows
rectocervical
The main advantage of the method lies in the most accurate entry into the cervical canal, which can be fixed through the rectal passage.
For insemination you will need:
- disposable syringes with a volume of 2 ml or polyethylene ampoules 48 mm in length;
- polystyrene catheter 34-41 cm long;
- disposable gloves 82-90 cm long.
It is advisable to carry out additional sterilization of all instruments used.
The following stages are assumed in the process of insemination:
- Connect the catheter, not completely removed from the packaging bag, to the syringe through the coupling. Then remove the catheter.
- Draw 1,1-1,2 ml of semen into the catheter.
- Treat the vulva of the animal with a furatsilin solution.
- Move the labia apart to exclude the possibility of their contact with the catheter. At the same time, insert it into the vagina to the point where the catheter is connected to the syringe. To prevent the catheter from being in the urination canal, it should be inserted from the lower position up about 14 cm, and then 30 degrees forward and up, and horizontally to the end.
- A gloved hand covered with saline should be inserted into the anus to control the progress of the catheter through the vagina. If the instrument enters the vaginal fold, the neck should be slightly pushed forward, which will straighten the wall.
- The cervix should be fixed so that you can reach the entrance to the canal with your hand and insert the catheter there. When hit, rotational movements should be carried out, which will allow the neck to be pulled onto the catheter.
- After the catheter has sunk 8-11 cm, you need to enter the seed. It is best that the catheter passes through the entire cervical canal, and the seed is directly in the uterus.
- Now you can remove the hand from the anus of the animal. The syringe is disconnected from the catheter, which is slowly pulled out.
The rectocervical method is the most effective. Successful insemination occurs in 75% of cases. The risk of infection is minimal due to the fact that disposable instruments are used. Also, this method is the shortest in time and the least laborious.
Visocervical
This method involves visual examination of the cervix using a vaginal speculum and illumination. Also, the mandatory instrumentation includes syringe catheters.
You should first prepare:
sodium citrate
- sodium citrate (2,9%);
- sodium chloride (1%);
- ethyl alcohol (70%).
Substances are poured into 4 vessels with corresponding numbers. The second container should contain a 70% alcohol solution. You will also need cotton swabs soaked in a 96% alcohol solution to sterilize the instruments used. Flushing liquids should be drained into dishes with thick walls.
This insemination involves the following steps:
- The syringe-catheter is repeatedly washed with substances from the third and fourth containers.
- Semen is drawn into the syringe. The air is removed and the semen is checked.
- The sterile mirror is subjected to fire treatment, obtained in the process of burning a tampon soaked in a 96% alcohol solution.
- Furacilin is washed with the external labia of the animal.
- Wash the mirror with a solution of sodium chloride (1%) and place it inside the vagina to the end.
- Now the mirror can be slowly turned with the handles down and gently opened to find and examine the cervix.
- A catheter is inserted into the cervical canal for 5-6 cm, after which the sperm must be squeezed out. Be sure to cover the mirror at this stage.
- Carefully remove the instruments from the animal’s body. In this case, the mirror must be slightly opened to avoid possible pinching of the mucous wall in the vagina.
Attention! A specialist conducting insemination in this way must have a sufficient level of qualification. Otherwise, there is a high probability of causing microtrauma to the animal.
epicervical
This method, in fact, is an imitation of the natural process of fertilization, when sperm is injected in the immediate vicinity of the vaginal opening. The method is applicable only for insemination of heifers, which is its main disadvantage. Embryo formation occurs in 65-70% of cases.
Epicervical technique
The technique of the epicervical method is as follows:
- Treatment of the external genital organs with a solution of furacilin.
- Insertion of the catheter, followed by pushing it halfway up, at an angle of about 30 degrees from the animal’s spine.
- After the catheter is advanced horizontally until it stops, the sperm is squeezed out.
Definition of pregnancy
A successfully fertilized cow is called a calf. Carrying a calf usually lasts for 9 months. The pregnancy of a cow can be established in two ways: rectal and vaginal. Today, the probability of successful diagnosis of fertilization reaches 100%.
20-23 days after insemination, a blood test for progesterone levels is performed. If insemination is successful, the amount of this hormone will be several times higher than the norm.
Conclusion
When choosing one or another method of artificial insemination, it should be remembered that only qualified specialists should carry it out. By entrusting your animals to a professional with extensive experience, you can not only get the desired offspring, but also minimize the chances of animal infection.
